reave

¹ American  

[reev] / riv /

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

reaved, reft, reaving

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

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reave ² American  

[reev] / riv /

verb (used with or without object)

reaved, reft, reaving

1. Archaic. to rend; break; tear.

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reave ¹ British  

/ riːv /

verb

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

2. to deprive; strip See also reive

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reave ² British  

/ riːv /

verb

1. archaic to break or tear (something) apart; cleave

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Etymology

Origin of reave¹

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

Origin of reave²

1175–1225; Middle English; apparently special use of reave ¹ (by association with rive )

Example Sentences

While they were in Europe, Promoter Montgomery began to reave out stock at $8 to $12 a share.

From Time Magazine Archive

Man's the elm, and Wealth the vine, Stanch and strong the tendrils twine; Through the frail ringlets thee deceive, None from its stock that vine can reave.

From Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson by Turpin, Edna Henry Lee

Wherefore is the castle warred upon of them that would fain reave her thereof by force.

From The High History of the Holy Graal by Evans, Sebastian

O help me Hubert, gentle Keeper helpe; God send this sodaine mutinous approach Tend not to reave a wretched guiltless life.

From Dramatic Technique by Baker, George Pierce

Well, the folks elected me a hog reave, jist to poke fun at me, and Mr. Jehiel, a bean pole of a lawyer, was at the bottom of it.

From The Clockmaker — or, the Sayings and Doings of Samuel Slick, of Slickville by Haliburton, Thomas Chandler