bereave
bereave definition
be·reave (bē rēv′, bi-)
transitive verb bereaved -·reaved′ or bereft -·reft′ (-reft′), bereaving -·reav′·ing
- to deprive or rob; dispossess: now usually in the pp. bereft she was bereft of hope or happiness
- to leave in a sad or lonely state, as by loss or death
- 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:
- bereavement be·reave′·ment noun
Browse dictionary definitions near bereave
Also Mentioned In