intransitive verbreft/reft/ /rɛft/

• 1 archaic Carry out raids in order to plunder.

  ‘the strong could reave and steal’

  More example sentences

  • ‘To slink thro' slaps, an' reave an' steal, At stacks o' pease, or stocks o' kail!’
  • ‘As their gods were, so their laws were; Thor the strong could reave and steal.’

  Synonyms

  plundering, plunder, looting, pillaging, robbing, robbery, raiding, ravaging, sacking, sack, ransacking, devastation, laying waste, wreckage, destruction, damage

  1. 1.1with object Rob (a person or place) of something by force.
     ‘reft of a crown, he yet may share the feast’
     More example sentences

     • ‘In silencing my power, I am reft of half my being!’
     Synonyms

     divest, strip, rob, cheat out of, do out of, deprive, relieve, bereave
  2. 1.2with object Steal (something).
     ‘Were you planning to escort me to my chambers, or have all your chivalrous faculties been reft from you?’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Helen, symbolizing perfect beauty as produced by Greek art, is recalled from Hades and ardently pursued by Faust, but finally reft from him.’
     • ‘‘What thou lov'st well shall not be reft from thee,’ said Pound.’
     • ‘Go reave me some loots.’
     Synonyms

     ransack, steal from, plunder, rob, raid, loot, rifle, sack

     steal, pilfer, thieve, rob, take, snatch, purloin, loot, rifle, abscond with, carry off