reave

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   archaic or literary: to rob, plunder, or carry something away by force

   Raiders crossed the border to reave cattle from the valley farms.

2. 2
   verb

   archaic or literary: to deprive a person of someone or something valued

   War had reft the family of its home and livelihood.

3. 3
   verb

   archaic or literary: to tear, split, or break apart

   The storm reft several limbs from the ancient oak.

From Middle English reven and Old English reafian, 'rob or plunder,' from a Germanic family also represented by rob. Its old participle reft survives chiefly in literary uses meaning deprived, torn, or carried away.

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