reave etymology

Etymology:

The word "reave" derives from the Old English word "reafian," meaning "to seize, plunder, or rob." It is related to the German word "rauben," meaning "to rob" or "to plunder."

Meaning and Origin:

In Old English, "reafian" was used to describe the act of taking something by force, often violently. It was a common term used in contexts of warfare, raiding, or theft. Over time, the meaning of "reave" evolved to include a broader sense of taking something away from someone, whether by force or not.

Today, "reave" is primarily used in a literary or poetic context to describe the act of taking away something of great value, often emotionally or symbolically. It can refer to the loss of a loved one, the destruction of something cherished, or the deprivation of something essential.

Examples:

• "The cruel tyrant reaved his subjects of their liberty."
• "The storm reaved the ship of its sails, leaving it adrift."
• "The loss of their child reaved the parents of their greatest joy."

reave relate terms

• bereave

  Etymology The word bereave comes from the Old English word bereafian which means to

• corrupt

  Etymology The word corrupt comes from the Latin word corruptus which means marred

• bereft

  Etymology Old English bereafod meaning robbed despoiled Germanic root raub

• corrupt

  Etymology The word corrupt comes from the Latin word corruptus which means marred

• reaver

  Etymology and Origin The word reaver derives from the Old English ræfian meaning

• plunder

  Etymology Middle English plunderen from Old French plundrer possibly from Old High G

• take

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It seeks to trace t

• pillage

  Etymology Middle English pillagen from Old French pillier pillager from Latin pilar

• sprit

  Etymology The word sprit has two distinct etymologies 1 From Old French Espe o

• strip

  Etymology The word strip has several etymological roots Old English stripian or

• stirp

  Etymology Latin stirps meaning stock lineage race Meaning A line of des

• rifle

  Etymology The word rifle comes from the German word riffeln meaning to groove Thi