GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

  1.       
    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. [Archaic]. “To reave his life.”  Spenser.

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    He golden apples raft of the dragon. Chaucer.

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    If the wooers reave

    By privy stratagem my life at home. Chapman.

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    To reave the orphan of his patrimony. Shak.

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    The heathen caught and reft him of his tongue. Tennyson.

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  2.       
    Reft (r?ft), imp. & p. p. of Reave. Bereft.

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    Reft of thy sons, amid thy foes forlorn. Heber.

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  3.       
    Reft, n. A chink; a rift. See Rift.  Rom. of R.

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  4.       
    Rift, n. [Written also reft.] [Dan. rift, fr. rieve to rend. See Rive.]
    1. An opening made by riving or splitting; a cleft; a fissure. Spenser.

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    2. A shallow place in a stream; a ford.

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