Reave (rēv), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Reaved (rēvd), Reft (rĕft), or Raft (rȧft) (obs.); p. pr. & vb. n.Reaving.] [AS. reáfian, from reáf spoil, plunder, clothing, reófan to break (cf. bireófan to deprive of); akin to G. rauben to rob, Icel. raufa to rob, rjūfa to break, violate, Goth. biráubōn to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to break. √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. “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.