▪ I. reaving, reiving, vbl. n.
(ˈriːvɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
The action of reave v.1
In recent use chiefly in Sc. form reiving.
| c 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1116 Wurdon maneᵹa unrada & ræfunga. c 1205 Lay. 2647 Þes wes þe aereste king, þe ferde vt to ræuing [v.r. reuing], þat ouer sæ wende. a 1300 Cursor M. 28797 Vr lauerd..wil na gift of oker, reuing, ne o thift. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 495 Al þe ȝere was in þe lond robbynge and manslauȝter, and revynge. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 432/1 Revynge of reste, inquietacio. 1567 Turberv. Epit. etc. 101 For it a Friendly hart..In value doe not passe The Ring, you may reprooue The reauing of the same. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. iii. 187 Trubling the west seyes in thift, ruging and reiueng. 1851 Sir F. Palgrave Norm. & Eng. I. viii. 684 They must help themselves..by robbing and reiving. |
▪ II. reaving, reiving, ppl. a.
(ˈriːvɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That robs or reaves.
| c 1000 ælfric Saints' Lives I. 328 Hi synd wiþ-innan reafiᵹende wulfas. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lix. 2 A refying sone of rakyng Muris. 1816 Scott Old Mort. iv, The twa reiving loons drave the cow frae the gudewife. 1828 ― F.M. Perth viii, A party of reiving night-walkers. 1858–61 J. Brown Horæ Subs. (1882) III. 417 His ancestors were of the sturdy border stock, reiving pastoral lairds. |