'Reaving' definitions:

Definition of 'Reaving'

From: GCIDE
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • He golden apples raft of the dragon. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • If the wooers reave By privy stratagem my life at home. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]
  • To reave the orphan of his patrimony. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The heathen caught and reft him of his tongue. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Reaving'