Word Study
reave
CIDE DICTIONARY
reave, v. t. [AS. reáfian, from reáf spoil, plunder, clothing, reófan to break (cf. bireófan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob, Icel. raufa to rob, rj to break, violate, Goth. biráub to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to break. Bereave, Rob, v. t. , Robe, Rove, v. i. , Rupture.].
To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. Spenser. [1913 Webster]
"He golden apples raft of the dragon." [1913 Webster]
"If the wooers reave
By privy stratagem my life at home." [1913 Webster]
By privy stratagem my life at home." [1913 Webster]
"To reave the orphan of his patrimony." [1913 Webster]
"The heathen caught and reft him of his tongue." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
reave, v. (past and past part. reft) archaic 1 tr. a (foll. by of) forcibly deprive of. b (foll. by away, from) take by force or carry off.
2 intr. make raids; plunder; = REIVE.
2 intr. make raids; plunder; = REIVE.
Etymology
OE reafian f. Gmc: cf. ROB
ROGET THESAURUS
reave
Taking
VB take, catch, hook, nab, bag, sack, pocket, put into one's pocket, receive, accept, reap, crop, cull, pluck, gather, draw, appropriate, expropriate, impropriate, assume, possess oneself of, take possession of, commandeer, lay one's hands on, clap one's hands on, help oneself to, make free with, dip one's hands into, lay under contribution, intercept, scramble for, deprive of, take away, carry away, bear away, take off, carry off, bear off, adeem, abstract, hurry off with, run away with, abduct, steal, ravish, seize, pounce upon, spring upon, swoop to, swoop down upon, take by storm, take by assault, snatch, reave, snap up, nip up, whip up, catch up, kidnap, crimp, capture, lay violent hands on, get hold of, lay hold of, take hold of, catch hold of, lay fast hold of, take firm hold of, lay by the heels, take prisoner, fasten upon, grip, grapple, embrace, gripe, clasp, grab, clutch, collar, throttle, take by the throat, claw, clinch, clench, make sure of, catch at, jump at, make a grab at, snap at, snatch at, reach, make a long arm, stretch forth one's hand, take from, take away from, disseize, deduct, retrench, dispossess, ease one of, snatch from one's grasp, tear from, tear away from, wrench from, wrest from, wring from, extort, deprive of, bereave, disinherit, cut off with a shilling, oust, divest, levy, distrain, confiscate, sequester, sequestrate, accroach, usurp, despoil, strip, fleece, shear, displume, impoverish, eat out of house and home, drain, drain to the dregs, gut, dry, exhaust, swallow up, absorb, draw off, suck the blood of, suck like a leech, retake, resume, recover.For further exploring for "reave" in Webster Dictionary Online
