Definitions for: Reave


[v] steal goods; take as spoils; "During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners"



Webster (1913) Definition: Reave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reaved, Reft, or
Raft(obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaving.] [AS. re['a]fian,
from re['a]f spoil, plunder, clothing, re['o]fan to break
(cf. bire['o]fan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob,
Icel. raufa to rob, rj[=u]fa to break, violate, Goth.
bir['a]ubon to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to
break. [root]114. Cf. Bereave, Rob, v. t., Robe,
Rove, v. t., Rupture.]
To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to
rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. ``To reave his
life.'' --Spenser.

He golden apples raft of the dragon. --Chaucer.

By privy stratagem my life at home. --Chapman.



To reave the orphan of his patrimony. --Shak.

The heaven caught and reft him of his tongue. --Tennyson.

Synonyms: despoil, foray, loot, pillage, plunder, ransack, rifle, strip

See Also: deplume, displume, take

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals starting with w
m letter animals