verb
reave
Reave (verb) means to steal or carry off goods, often violently.
verb
1
To steal or carry off goods, often violently.
"And I for one am not convinced of the innocence of the model: it is as if we let a criminal make up the law as he or she ambles along, reaving right and left."
— Lawrence R. Schehr, Rendering French Realism (1997)
2
To take something away from a person, often by force or dishonesty.
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Etymology
Came into English from Middle English reven, which developed from Old English rēafian, from Proto-West Germanic *raubōn. Its Germanic cognates include West Frisian rave, Old English rēaf (“spoils, booty”) and the Old English past participle rofen (“torn, broken”), as well as Norwegian rjuva, German rauben, Danish røve, and Swedish röva. Beyond Germanic, it is related to Latin rumpō (“to break”), Lithuanian rùpti (“to roughen”), and Sanskrit रोपयति (ropayati, “to make suffer”). See also rob and reif.
Related words
Rhymes for reave
See all rhymes for reave →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of reave?
"reave" (verb) means to steal or carry off goods, often violently.
What is another word for reave?
Other words for "reave" include ransack, foray, pillage, loot, plunder, strip.
What are the different meanings of reave?
"reave" has 2 main meanings: 1. To steal or carry off goods, often violently; 2. To take something away from a person, often by force or dishonesty.
