What does reave mean?
Reave is an archaic verb meaning to seize property by force, especially through raiding or plundering. Its modern appearance is usually historical or literary, as in descriptions of Viking-era raiders, pirates, or invading armies. The related noun reaver denotes a raider or plunderer, and the word also appears figuratively in expressions concerning predatory business practices. Although reave once described an ordinary action, it now has a markedly historical tone and can suggest the violence and indiscriminate seizure associated with raids. In contemporary English, plunder and raid are generally more natural choices, while rob is the broadest and most neutral term for taking something by force. Reave should not be confused with reeve, which means to appoint an official, or rive, which means to split or rend.
verbTo take property by force, especially by plunder or raid. In modern use, the word is chiefly literary or historical.
- To take property by force; to plunder or raid.
"The raiders reaved the coastal villages before the fleet sailed north."
"Warrior bands reaved settlements along the coast."
"The poem describes pirates who reaved the harbor town and vanished before dawn."
A reaver was a raider, and to reave was to seize what belonged to others—a concise reminder that many familiar words about raiding have Old English roots.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reave come from?
Reave comes from Old English rēafian, meaning to rob or plunder. The word is generally traced to a Proto-Germanic root associated with seizing, plundering, or taking by force and is cognate with German rauben, Dutch roven, and Danish røve. In Middle English, the verb was also associated with the notion of a reaver or raider, giving rise to the modern derivative reaver.
Related word forms
How reave is actually used
The verb is now archaic and literary. It may appear in historical narration, poetry, or deliberately archaic writing; modern speakers normally use plunder, raid, or rob.
Easily confused with reave
Reave means to plunder or take by force, whereas reeve means to appoint or select an official, such as a churchwarden.
Reave means to plunder or seize, while rive means to split, tear, or rend.