Reave v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reaved Reft or Raft (obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Reaving.] To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. “To reave his life.”
He golden apples raft of the dragon. --Chaucer.
If the wooers reave
By privy stratagem my life at home. --Chapman.
To reave the orphan of his patrimony. --Shak.
The heathen caught and reft him of his tongue. --Tennyson.
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Reft imp. & p. p. of Reave. Bereft.
Reft of thy sons, amid thy foes forlorn. --Heber.
Reft, n. A chink; a rift. See Rift.
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Rift, n. [Written also reft.]
1. An opening made by riving or splitting; a cleft; a fissure.
2. A shallow place in a stream; a ford.
reave
v : steal goods; take as spoils; "During the earthquake people
looted the stores that were deserted by their owners"
[syn: plunder, despoil, loot, strip, rifle, ransack,
pillage, foray]
[also: reft]