The term reft is a past tense as well as a past participle of the term reave. As a transitive verb, the word reave means seizing and carrying off forcibly. It could also mean depriving (one) of something. In this sense it may be used as a synonym for the term bereave.
As an intransitive verb, reave could also mean to rob, pillage or plunder. In this sense of the term it has its roots in the Middle English term reven, meaning to plunder; coming from the Old English reafian. Synonyms for the word in this sense would include the terms despoil, foray, pillage, rifle, ransack, loot, strip and plunder.
Another archaic use of the term reave is as a transitive verb meaning to break or tear apart. The noun form of the same is reaver.
As an intransitive verb, reave could also mean to rob, pillage or plunder. In this sense of the term it has its roots in the Middle English term reven, meaning to plunder; coming from the Old English reafian. Synonyms for the word in this sense would include the terms despoil, foray, pillage, rifle, ransack, loot, strip and plunder.
Another archaic use of the term reave is as a transitive verb meaning to break or tear apart. The noun form of the same is reaver.
