reave

¹

[ reev ]

verb (used with object)

, Archaic.

, reaved or reft, reav·ing.

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

reave

²

[ reev ]

verb (used with or without object)

, reaved or reft, reav·ing.

1. Archaic. to rend; break; tear.

reave

¹

/ riːv /

verb

1. to carry off (property, prisoners, etc) by force
2. trfoll byof to deprive; strip See also reive

reave

²

/ riːv /

verb

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

Word History and Origins

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of reave¹

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

Origin of reave²

C13 reven , probably from reave ¹and influenced in meaning by rive

Example Sentences

With the Hundred Years' War against England came soldiers reaving and burning through the countryside, while the Black Death followed swiftly thereafter, striking Burgundy in 1348 and again, with even greater severity, in 1360.

From Salon

And eventually, it bursts through, burning and reaving.

From Literature

Like that time Gregor Clegane went reaving through the countryside before the war even started: It isn’t crazy to think millions died over the years.

From The Verge

Next week, the season finale: reaving, roving, and raiding.

From The New Yorker

Was the sequel originally going to be a prequel about Bala-Tik and the Guavian Death Gang’s early years of reaving in the outer rim territories?

From The Guardian