reave (redirected from reaving)

reave ¹  (rv)

v. reaved or reft (rft), reav·ing, reaves Archaic

v.tr.

1. To seize and carry off forcibly.

2. To deprive (one) of something; bereave.

v.intr.

To rob, plunder, or pillage.

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[Middle English reven, to plunder, from Old English rafian; see reup- in Indo-European roots.]

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reave ²  (rv)

tr.v. reaved or reft (rft), reav·ing, reaves Archaic

To break or tear apart.

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[Middle English reven, possibly alteration (influenced by reven, to plunder) of Old Norse rfa, to rive.]

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reave¹

vb reaves, reaving, reaved, reft [rɛft] Archaic

1. to carry off (property, prisoners, etc.) by force

2. (tr; foll by of) to deprive; strip See also reive

[Old English reāfian; related to Old High German roubōn to rob, Old Norse raufa to break open]

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reave²

vb reaves, reaving, reaved, reft [rɛft]

Archaic to break or tear (something) apart; cleave

[C13 reven, probably from reave¹ and influenced in meaning by rive]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

reave - steal goods; take as spoils; "During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners" despoil, foray, pillage, ransack, rifle, loot, plunder, strip take - take by force; "Hitler took the Baltic Republics"; "The army took the fort on the hill" deplume, displume - strip of honors, possessions, or attributes