■ verb ( ~s , ~bing , ~bed )
1》 take property unlawfully from (a person or place) by force or threat of force.
↘ informal or dialect steal (something).
↘ informal overcharge.
2》 ( ~ someone of ) deprive someone of (something needed or deserved).
Phrases
~ Peter to pay Paul deprive one person of something in order to pay another. [p~. with ref. to the saints and apostles Peter and Paul .]
Derivatives
~ber noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~er , of Gmc origin; related to reave .