reave
Low (Rare/Archaic/Literary)Poetic, Archaic, Literary
Definition
Meaning
to plunder, rob, or carry away by force, typically in a violent or destructive manner.
To take away something violently or abruptly; to tear apart, split, or cleave.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning of forcible plundering is now archaic. The verb, especially in its past forms 'reft' or 'reaved', appears in poetic/literary contexts to mean 'torn away' or 'bereft'. 'Reave' is a causative verb, implying an external agent causing the deprivation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Effectively none; the word is equally rare/archaic in both varieties. The primary variant 'bereave' is slightly more common and standard.
Connotations
Carries a strong literary, historical, or poetic connotation. In modern passive/participial forms ('reft'), it may be used for heightened dramatic or archaic effect.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech. Far more common in its derivative form 'bereave' and its noun 'bereavement'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + reave + Object (e.g., Raiders reaved the village.)Subject + reave + Object + of + Prepositional Object (e.g., War reft him of his family.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “reft of (e.g., 'reft of joy', 'reft of sense')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or literary analysis (e.g., 'Viking reaving patterns').
Everyday
Virtually never used. 'Rob' or 'steal' are used instead.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The ancient ballad tells of dragons that would reave the countryside.
- The knight swore to protect the village from those who would reave and burn.
American English
- The poem described how sorrow had reft her heart of peace.
- In the historical novel, invaders reaved the coastal settlements.
adverb
British English
- No common adverbial form.
American English
- No common adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- No modern adjectival form in use. 'Bereaved' is the related adjective.
American English
- No modern adjectival form in use. 'Bereaved' is the related adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (A2 is too low for this archaic word; this space will re-use a simple explanatory sentence.) The old word 'reave' means to steal or take by force.
- In the story, the pirates would reave every ship they found.
- The village was reft of its wealth after the attack.
- The marauding army sought to reave the province of its resources, leaving the people destitute.
- He felt utterly reft after the sudden loss, as if a part of him had been torn away.
- The historian described the century as one of relentless reaving, where no monastery or town was safe from the northern raiders.
- Her eloquent speech was reft of its power by the audience's palpable indifference, rendering her metaphors hollow.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a THIEF who LEAVES you with nothing. REAVE = thIEVE + LEAVE.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEACE/ORDER IS A WHOLE CLOTH; CONFLICT/DESTRUCTION IS TEARING IT APART (as in 'reave' and 'rend').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian 'риф' (reef) or 'реветь' (to roar).
- The core sense aligns with Russian 'грабить' (to plunder), but 'reave' is far more archaic and literary.
- The past participle 'reft' is similar in form to 'left', but means 'bereft/taken away', not 'остался'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'reave' in modern, casual contexts.
- Using the regular past tense 'reaved' instead of the common literary past participle 'reft' (e.g., 'He was reft from us.').
- Confusing it with 'reeve' (a medieval officer) or 'weave'.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'reave' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or literary. The more common modern word with a related meaning is 'bereave' (to deprive through death).
'Reave' broadly means to plunder or take away violently. 'Bereave' is specifically to deprive (someone) of a loved one through death. 'Bereave' is the standard modern term.
Both 'reaved' and 'reft' are found, with 'reft' being the more common literary and past participle form (e.g., 'He was reft of all hope').
Only if you are writing in a historical or literary context where an archaic tone is deliberate. For standard academic writing, use more precise modern synonyms like 'plunder', 'loot', or 'despoil'.