▪ I. reave, n. Archæol.
(riːv, reɪv)
[Origin unknown: perh. f. OE. rǣw rew n.1]
A long low bank or wall found on Dartmoor.
| 1848 J. H. Mason in S. Rowe Perambulation of Dartmoor 130 In tracing the northernmost reave from Hamildon..we lost it in a tin-work. 1976 Current Archaeol. V. 250/2 Four major walls on the moor... The walls were known as reaves in local dialect (pronounced ‘raves’). Ibid. 252/1 The lynchets seem to show that the reaves..were built by a people who already had fields laid out in parallel strips. 1978 Antiquity Mar. 16/1 Dartmoor reaves..(the word derives from the Old English raew, meaning a row) are long, low banks, constructed mainly of stone, and often covered in vegetation. These may run for any distance up to 15 km, and they may reach 0·5 m or more in height. |
▪ II. reave, v.1 Now only arch. or poet.
(riːv)
Forms: inf. 1 réafian, 2 ræuen, 2–3 reauen, 3 ræfenn, reafen, 3–5 refe(n, 3–6 reu-, reve(n, 5 revyn; (? 4 reyue), 5–6 Sc. reif(f)e, rewe, 6 Sc. reff-, 6 (8–9 Sc.) reeve, 6–7 reaue, 6– reave, (Sc. reive, 9 rieve). pa. tense. α. 1 réafode, 2–3 ræuede, reuede, 3 rewede, ræfde, refde, 4 revede; (and pa. pple.) 4–5 reu-, reued, (-id, -yd, 5 refyd, reuet, Sc. rewyt, etc.), 6–7 reaued, 6– reaved, 9 rieved. β. 3–6 raft(e, 5 raffte; 3–5 refte, 4 reeft, 5 refft, 3– reft. Also pa. pple. 3 ræfedd, refd, 4 yreued, -raft, 7 reauen. (See also rive v.)
[Comm. Teut.: OE. réafian = OFris. râvia, râva, OS. rôƀôn (MLG. rôven, MDu. roven, Du. rooven), OHG. roubôn (MHG. rouben, G. rauben), Goth. (bi)raubôn:—OTeut. *rauƀôjan, f. *rauƀo{supm} (OE. réaf: see reif), from the o-grade of a pre-Teut. ablaut series *reup-, roup-, rup-, widely represented in the cognate languages; the original sense is app. that of breaking, as in OE. réofan, ON. rj{uacu}fa, raufa, Lat. rup-, rumpĕre.
In the sense of robbing or plundering the word is wanting in ON. The later Icel. reyfa (from about 1400) is ad. Da. röve (MDa. röffue, etc.), which like Sw. röfva (MSw. röffua, röwa, etc.) is from MLG. rôven: cf. note to reaver.
The spelling reive (or rieve), originally Sc., is sometimes employed when the reference is to the taking of goods or cattle by force (cf. reiver, reiving); in other senses the normal Eng. spelling is retained, as in the comb. bereave.]
1. intr. To commit spoliation or robbery; to plunder, pillage. Const. from. (In later use chiefly Sc., sometimes written reive, rieve.)
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. Contents xv, Ne ðæm sloeᵹende ne ðæm reafende..wiðstonda. a 1023 Wulfstan Hom. xxxiii. (Napier) 163 Hy herᵹiað..rypað and reafiað and to scipe lædað. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 31 Bluðeliche þe mon wile gan to scrifte & segge þe preoste þet he haueð ireaueð & istolen. c 1205 Lay. 10584 Heo rupten, heo ræfden [v.r. refden], noht heo ne bi-læfden. a 1300 Cursor M. 6477 Lok þat þou ne reue ne stele. 1375 Barbour Bruce xvi. 551 Thai..Tuk land, and fast begouth to reif. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4898 Þai slew, þai brent, þai robbed, þai reued. c 1520 Barclay Jugurth xxvii. 37 Euery man..robbyng and reauynge without measure, from the commen wele. 1607 R. C[arew] tr. Estienne's World of Wonders 48 The Church from liue and dead doth reaue. 1783 Burns Unco Mournfu' Tale 37 To slink thro' slaps, an' reave an' steal, At stacks o' pease. 1851 Lowell Poems, Anti-Apis, Thor the strong could reave and steal. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. I. ii. 62 A troop of bare-legged ruffians, who rieved and ravaged far and near. |
† 2. trans. a. To despoil or rob (a person); to deprive (one) of something by force. Obs.
| Beowulf 2986 Þenden reafode rinc oðerne, nam on Ongenðio irenbyrnan. 971 Blickl. Hom. 63 Sume myccle swiþor rihtaþ Godes folc þonne hie reafian earme & unscyldigan. c 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1135 æuric man sone ræuede oþer þe mihte. a 1225 Ancr. R. 286 Hwo so euer on him sulf nimeð ouðer of þeos two, he robbeð God & reaueð. 13.. Cursor M. 6149 (Gött.) Godd, þat grace to his folk gaue,..For to reue þat folk vn-sele. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 91 Gif a knycht be reft doand his princis charge. Ibid. 92 A revare that set to reve him be the way. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 9 Commit na thift, na man thow reif. |
† b. To spoil, rob, or plunder (a place or district).
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark iii. 27 Nymðe ærist ðone stronga [he] ᵹebinde, & ðonne hus his reafað. c 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1087 [Hi] woldan þa ðæne port bærnen & þæt mynster reafian. c 1154 Ibid. an. 1137 Þa ræueden hi & brendon alle the tunes. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 2802 Ge sulen cumen..And reuen egipte ðat is nu prud. c 1465 in Three 15th Cent. Chron. (Camden) 23 The Kynge off Scottes..robbed and revid the contre about Derham. |
3. To despoil, rob, or forcibly deprive (usually a person) of something. (In mod. use chiefly in pa. pple. reft.)
| c 1275 Lay. 8799 He wolde me vt driue and refe me of þan lifue. c 1300 Harrow. Hell 119 Ȝef þou reuest me of myne Y shal reue þe of þyne. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xix. (Christopher) 658 Ane arow..rewyt þe king of ane ee-sycht. c 1470 Harding Chron. lxviii. x, So shall wee reue theim sonest of their life. 1559 Sackville Induct. Mirr. Mag. liii, Pale death Enthryllyng it to reue her of her breath. 1567 Golding Ovid's Met. xii. (1593) 283 Amycus..began To reeve and rob the bridehouse of his furniture. 1610 G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. i. lxviii, Though of present sight her sense were reauen, Yet shee could see the things could not be seen. 1757 Gray Bard 79 Reft of a crown, he yet may share the feast. 1813 Scott Trierm. iii. Introd. i, A wild resemblance we can trace, Though reft of every softer grace. 1884 Tennyson Becket i. iii. 364 We fear that he may reave thee of thine own [eyes]. |
4. With double object: To take (a thing or person) from (one) by, or as by, robbery or violence; to deprive (one) of (a possession, quality, etc.). ? Obs.
The personal object prob. represents an original dative, and in early use is retained when the construction is passive.
| c 1200 Ormin 4470 Ȝiff þu ræfesst me min þing Þu ræfesst Godd tin sawle. Ibid. 8238 Himm wass þa þe kinedom Forr hise gilltess ræfedd. c 1300 Havelok 2590 He moun vs..thral maken, and do ful wo Or elles reue us ure liues. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 1220 Þai raft me fowe & griis. Ibid. 3304 Mi leman fair and swete A kniȝt haþ reued me. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iv. met. vii. 147 (Add. MS.) He slouȝ þe lyoun and rafte hym hys skyn. c 1440 Partonope 3204 A wyne I dranke..Thorwe whiche my wyt was me rafte. 1450–80 tr. Secreta Secret. 38 If thou maiste not reve hem her watir..envenyme it. 1561 Norton & Sack. Gorboduc ii. i, I meruaile muche what reason leade the kynge..to reue me halfe ye kingdome. 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. i. 723 He reaves him [Job] all his Cattel. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits xv. (1596) 274 To say that Eue for her offence was reft that knowledge which she wanted cannot be auouched. |
5. To take forcible possession of (something belonging to another); to take away from another for oneself.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter lxviii. 5 Ða ic ne reafade, ða ic onlesde. c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xiii, Se ðe hit [gold] gaderað & on oðrum reafað. c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 130 Swa hwæt swa he ær on unriht..reafode. a 1225 Ancr. R. 396 Þi luue..is forto sullen, oðer heo is forto reauen & to nimen mid strencðe. a 1300 Cursor M. 1962 Ete..O nakin worme þat es made, Na o fouxul þat refes his liuelade. c 1350 Will. Palerne 1824 Bred oþer drinke..redeli i wol it reue & come a ȝein swiþe. c 1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2253 My landes haves he robbed and reft, Noght bot this kastel es me left. c 1470 Henry Wallace iv. 59 The hors thai reft quhilk suld your harnes ber. 1587 Turberv. Trag. T. (1837) 83 It were a worthie deede..To murther him, and reave his realme. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 14 The cattell, or anie other thing thifteouslie stollen or reft. 1768–73 W. Cole in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) II. 40, I observed all the Brass of Dr. Stokes's Monument reaved,..except a small Peice. 1808 Scott Marm. iii. Introd. 69 The last, the bitterest pang..For princedoms reft, and scutcheons riven. 1866 Skeat Ludlow Castle i. iii, Crafty foemen long to..reave or spoil The herdsman's care, the peasant's toil. |
b. To take away (life, rest, sight, etc.).
| c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 9088 (Kölbing) Þai hem þrewe wiþ spere & kniif & oþer armes to reuen her liif. 1375 Barbour Bruce iii. 715 The wawys reft thar sycht of land. c 1440 Partonope 239 Let no such thoughtes reve youre rest. 1559 Mirr. Mag. (1563) X ij, Who reft my wyts? or howe do I thus lye? 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. i. 17 Sith that false traytour did my honour reave. 1591 ― M. Hubberd 34 Talke, that might unquiet fancies reave. a 1771 Gray Dante 79 For then Hunger had reft my Eye-sight. 1872 Blackie Lays Highl. 82 They shot..And reaved his purple life. |
c. Const. from (a person, etc.), † of, out of (a place, etc.).
Usually conveying the idea of deprivation (as in a and b), but sometimes merely expressing removal or separation.
| c 1200 Vices & Virtues 11 An oðer senne, ðe reaueð godes luue of mannes hierte. a 1300 Cursor M. 28791 To reue a-noþer his right him fra. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 4967 (Kölbing) For to haue anon yreued His bodi fram his gentil heued. c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 111 He golden Apples refte of the dragoun. c 1400 Destr. Troy 7680 He..The right arme, with a rappe, reft fro þe shuldurs. c 1470 Henry Wallace x. 484, I mycht reiff..Fra the thi crowne off this regioun. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. iii. 95 The rane and roik reft fra ws sicht of hevin. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. i. 24 From her body..He raft her hatefull heade without remorse. 1606 G. W[oodcocke] Hist. Ivstine xxxix. 125 Hauing giuen commaundement to haue the Image of Iupiter reft out of the Temple also. a 1638 Mede Wks. (1672) 311 The wicked shall be condemned at the last day, not for reaving the meat from the hungry, but for not feeding their poor brethren. 1825 Scott Talism. viii, His soul should not have been reft from his body. 1884 Tennyson Becket i. iii, There be among you those that hold Lands reft from Canterbury. |
d. With away.
| 1382 Wyclif Jer. I. 11 Ȝee ful out ioȝen, and grete thingus speken, reuende awei myn eritage. c 1400 Rowland & O. 561 His schelde a waye it reuede. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 2648 All his webb þat he weues, A puft of wynde away reues. 1768 Beattie Minstr. i. xxxvi, Fell chanticleer! who oft hast reft away My fancied good. a 1839 Praed Poems (1864) II. 290 The daily labour, and the nightly lamp, Have reft away..from him The liquid accent and the buoyant limb. |
6. To take or carry away (a person) from another, from earth, to heaven, etc.; also ellipt. to carry off to heaven; to take away from earth or this life. (Also with soul as object.)
| c 1200 Ormin 19825 Herodian Filippess wif..þatt fra Filippe ræfedd was..& gifenn till Herode. a 1300 Cursor M. 17551 He þam said he was be-nummen, ‘Reft awai forsoth es he’. 1340 Ayenb. 143 [The soul] huanne hi is y-reaued þanne to heuene, hi lokeþ ope þe erþe uram uer. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vi. (Thomas) 464 Þane cumys ded vnwenandly & rewis þame a-wa in hy. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 6463 Þat he was fra þe erde reuyd And in thoght to heuyn heuyd. 1563 Mirr. Mag. ii. Compl. Henry Dk. Buckhm. 126 When the fates had reft that royal prince Edward the fowrth. 1590 Greene Orl. Fur. Wks. (Rtldg.) 106/2 A Fury, sure, worse than Megæra was That reft her son from trusty Pylades. 1637 Milton Lycidas 107 Who hath reft (quoth he) my dearest pledge? 1721 Ramsay I'll never leave thee i, Tho'..honour should reave me To fields where cannons rair. 1818 Shelley Rev. Islam viii. xxiv, We are wretched slaves, Who from their..native land Are reft. a 1873 Lytton Pausanias ii. iv, Wouldst thou see my daughter reft from me by force. |
† b. To deliver or rescue by carrying off. Obs. (Also with double object, as in 4.)
| a 1225 Juliana 68 Bihald me ant help me ant of þisse reade leye ref me [and] arude me. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xvii. 20 He reft me out fra my faes stalworthest. c 1400 Destr. Troy 6838 Let vs reskew the Renke, refe hym his fos! 1550 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 97 The said Capitane Skenestoun..reft the said Schir Robert fra thaim efter that thai had takin him. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden James III Wks. (1711) 56 If found guilty, they should not be reft from justice by strong hand. |
† c. To take away, remove, from some condition, activity, etc. Obs.
| c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 40 It reuys the fra þi slepe on nyghtys. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiv. 132 Allas! þat ricchesse shal reue and robbe mannes soule Fram þe loue of owre lorde. c 1381 Chaucer Parl. Foules 86 The derke nyȝt That revith bestis from here besynesse. 1621 R. Brathwait Nat. Embassie, etc. (1877) 188 How hard it was from error to be reau'd. 1665 Dryden & Howard Ind. Queen v. i, 'Till fit for arms, I reaved you from your sport, To train your youth in the Peruvian court. |
† d. Sc. To snatch or lift up (in lit. and fig. senses). Obs.
| 1561 Winȝet Cert. Tract. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 8 Gospellaris and cunning in Scripture..reft vp in hie curiositie of questionis. 1715 Ramsay Christ's Kirk Gr. i. xii, The wyves cam furth, and up they reft him, And fand lyfe in the loune. |
▪ III. reave, v.2 Now dial. or arch.
Forms: inf. 4 reue, 6 reve, 6–7 reave, 7, 9 reive, 9 reeve. pa. tense 3 reafde, refde, 4 raft, 5 Sc. reft. pa. pple. 6 refte, 9 reft.
[App. a confusion of prec. with rive v. In mod. literary use only in the preterite form reft.]
† 1. intr. To break in pieces; to burst. Obs.
| a 1225 Juliana 58 An engel..reat to þat hweol swa þat hit al to refde [Bodl. Ms. to reafde]. c 1560 Disobed. Child (Percy Soc.) 6 Though ye crye tyll ye reve asunder I wyll not meddle with such a matter. |
2. trans. To tear; to split, cleave.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4490 A mikel rauen mi basket hent, Aboute mi heued he raft and rent. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Machor) 251 Scho..with hyr newis reft hir brest. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. iv. 203 Religion hue al to-reueþ and out of ruele to lybbe. 1578 T. Proctor Gorg. Gallery in Heliconia (1815) I. 70 My sighes from sobbing harte Doth reaue my brest in twayne. 1590 R. Payne Descr. Irel. (1841) 6 Timber..so good to reaue, that a simple workeman with a Brake axe will cleaue a greate Oke. 1660 Stanley Hist. Philos. ix. (1701) 369/1 Finding a great Tree with Wedges in it, he set his Hands and Feet to it, trying to reive it asunder. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles iii. xxvii, The patriot's burning thought..Of England's roses reft and torn. 1887 Pall Mall G. 11 Nov. 7/1 The rock was reft asunder. |
| absol. 1895 Crockett Men of Moss-Hags xxxii. 235 [A dog] ruggin' an' reevin' at the hinderlands o' him. |
† 3. To pluck or pull up. Obs.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 409 Þis diuinour..Ȝede him furthe..herbis to seche, Reft þam vp be þe rotes. 1558 T. Phaer æneid ii. C i b, Against them Troians down the towres and tops of houses rold, And rafters vp they reaue. |
▪ IV. † reave, v.3 Obs. rare.
? var. of rave v.3
| 1615 Sir G. Helwys in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 161 Whether..I had got any inkling of this foresaid foul act or not, and if I had, whether he could perceive any desire in me to have it reaved into or not. 1643 Horn & Rob. Gate Lang. Unl. xlvi. §504 Sometimes also hee rips the seams, and reaveth [ravelleth out] the threds. |
▪ V. reave
obs. Sc. f. rave v.1, var. reeve v.