reave

UK: /riːv/ US: (rēv)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

reave¹  (rēv), v.t., reaved or reft, reav•ing. [Archaic.]

1. to take away by or as by force;
   plunder;
   rob.

• bef. 900; Middle English reven, Old English rēafian; cognate with German rauben, Dutch roven to rob

reave²  (rēv), v.t., v.i., reaved or reft, reav•ing. 

1. [Archaic.] to rend;
   break;
   tear.

• 1175–1225; Middle English; apparently special use of reave¹ (by association with rive)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

reave / riːv/ verb (reaves, reaving, reaved, reft / rɛft/)

1. to carry off (property, prisoners, etc) by force
2. (transitive) followed by of: to deprive; strip
   See also reive

Etymology: Old English reāfian; related to Old High German roubōn to rob, Old Norse raufa to break open