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