Reave \Reave\ (r[=e]v), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reaved} (r[=e]vd), {Reft} (r[e^]ft), or {Raft} (r[.a]ft) (obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Reaving}.] [AS. re['a]fian, from re['a]f spoil, plunder, clothing, re['o]fan to break (cf. bire['o]fan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob, Icel. raufa to rob, rj[=u]fa to break, violate, Goth. bir['a]ub[=o]n to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to break. [root]114. Cf. {Bereave}, {Rob}, v. t., {Robe}, {Rove}, v. i., {Rupture}.] To take away by violence or by stealth; to snatch away; to rob; to despoil; to bereave. [Archaic]. ``To reave his life.'' --Spenser.
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.