Bereave

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /bɪˈriːv/
• Rhymes: -iːv

Origin

From Middle English bereven, from Old English berēafian ("to bereave, deprive of, take away, seize, rob, despoil") and Old English berēofan ("to bereave, deprive, rob of"); both equivalent to - + reave. Cognate with Dutch beroven ("to rob, deprive, bereave"), German berauben ("to deprive, rob, bereave"), Danish berove ("to deprive of"), Norwegian berove ("to deprive"), Swedish beröva ("to rob").

Full definition of bereave

Verb

1. (transitive) To deprive by or as if by violence; rob; strip.
2. (transitive) To take away by destroying, impairing, or spoiling; take away by violence.
3. (transitive) To deprive of power; prevent.
4. (transitive) To take away someone or something important or close; deprive.Death bereaved him of his wife.The castaways were bereft of hope.
5. (intransitive, rare) To destroy life; cut off.

Derived terms

• bereavement
• bereaver

Related terms

• reave