\Reave\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reaved}, {Reft}, or
{Raft}(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]ubon to despoil, L. rumpere to break; cf. Skr. lup to
break. [root]114. Cf. {Bereave}, {Rob}, v. t., {Robe},
{Rove}, v. t., {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.
      By privy stratagem my life at home.      --Chapman.
   To reave the orphan of his patrimony.       --Shak.
   The heaven caught and reft him of his tongue. --Tennyson.