I. ˈrēv verb
( reaved -vd ; or reft ˈreft ; or archaic raft ˈraft ; reaved or reft or archaic raft ; reaving ; reaves )
Etymology: Middle English reven, from Old English rēafian; akin to Old High German roubōn to rob, Old Norse raufa to break up, open, Gothic bi raubon to rob, strip, Latin rumpere to break, burst, Sanskrit ropayati he breaks off, Old Norse rögg tuft, shagginess — more at rug
intransitive verb
archaic : to take something away by or as if by stealth or force : pillage , plunger , rob
transitive verb
archaic : to take away by or as if by stealth or force: as
a. : rob , despoil
of what enjoyments thou hast reft us — Robert Burns
b.
(1) : to deprive one of
reave his life — Edmund Spenser
(2) : seize
thy father … reft from my dead lord a field with violence — Alfred Tennyson
c. : to carry or tear away : remove
who hath reft … my dearest pledge — John Milton
II. verb
( reaved -vd ; or reft ˈreft ; reaved or reft ; reaving ; reaves )
Etymology: Middle English reven, probably modification (influenced by Middle English reven to take away by or as if by stealth or force, rob, despoil) of Old Norse rīfa to rive, tear — more at rive
archaic : burst , tear , split