The below definition is from the Oxford English Dictionary, UK version.
CITE: reave. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press.
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I didn't discern any difference in the definitions in the US version, so I'm just including the UK version as they seem to be same.
Definition of reave in English:
reave
Pronunciation: /riːv/
VERB (past and past participle reft / /rɛft//)
[NO OBJECT] archaic
1Carry out raids in order to plunder:
the strong could reave and steal
- To slink thro' slaps, an' reave an' steal, At stacks o' pease, or stocks o' kail!
- As their gods were, so their laws were; Thor the strong could reave and steal.
1.1
[WITH OBJECT]Rob (a person or place) of something by force:
reft of a crown, he yet may share the feast
- In silencing my power, I am reft of half my being!
1.2
[WITH OBJECT]Steal (something).
- Were you planning to escort me to my chambers, or have all your chivalrous faculties been reft from you?
- Helen, symbolizing perfect beauty as produced by Greek art, is recalled from Hades and ardently pursued by Faust, but finally reft from him.
- ‘What thou lov'st well shall not be reft from thee,’ said Pound.
- Go reave me some loots.
Derivatives
reaver
NOUN
- Not in our lands; these are claimed for one and one only, not reavers such as thee!
- What shall a young reaver do but spend his coins like the snake sips water?
- The great-handed reaver felt a hot scar tear across his cheeks and the bitter salt-welling of blood whet his lips and nostrils.
- As a mercenary and reaver he should not have any qualms as the gold trickled into his pockets, the gold of blood-letting.
Origin
Old English
rēafian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch
roven, German
rauben, also to
rob. See also
reive.
Words that rhyme with reave
achieve, believe, breve, cleave, conceive, deceive, eve, greave, grieve, heave, interleave, interweave, khedive, leave, misconceive, naive, Neve, peeve, perceive, receive, reive, relieve, reprieve, retrieve, sheave, sleeve, steeve, Steve, Tananarive, Tel Aviv, thieve, underachieve, upheave, weave, we've, Yves
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: reave