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bereave

 - 2 dictionary results

be⋅reave

  [bi-reev]
Use bereave in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -reaved or -reft, -reav⋅ing.
1. to deprive and make desolate, esp. by death (usually fol. by of): Illness bereaved them of their mother.
2. to deprive ruthlessly or by force (usually fol. by of): The war bereaved them of their home.
3. Obsolete. to take away by violence.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME bereven, OE berēafian; c. D berooven, G berauben, Goth biraubōn. See be-, reave 1

Related forms:
be⋅reave⋅ment, noun
be⋅reav⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bereave
be·reave   (bĭ-rēv')   
tr.v.   be·reaved or be·reft (-rěft'), be·reav·ing, be·reaves

  1. To leave desolate or alone, especially by death: "Cry aloud for the man who is dead, for the woman and children bereaved" (Alan Paton).

  2. Archaic To take (something valuable or necessary), typically by force.


[Middle English bireven, to deprive, from Old English berēafian; see reup- in Indo-European roots.]
be·reave'ment n., be·reav'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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