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bereave definition

be·reave (bē rēv, bi-)

transitive verb bereaved -·reaved′ or bereft -·reft′ (-reft), bereaving -·reav′·ing

  1. to deprive or rob; dispossess: now usually in the pp. bereft she was bereft of hope or happiness
  2. to leave in a sad or lonely state, as by loss or death
  3. Obsolete to take away by force

Etymology: ME bireven < OE bereafian, to deprive, rob < be-, be- + reafian, akin to Ger rauben: see reave

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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