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bereavement

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be⋅reave

  [bi-reev]
Use bereavement 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 bereavement
Family Crisis Support
Conflict, Illness, Grief, Divorce, Addiction, Depression. We can help.
www.metropolitanpsychotherapy.org
Bereavement
Learn More About Bereavement Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Tests
AARP.org
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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Word Origin & History

bereave 
O.E. bereafian "rob," from be + reafian "rob, plunder," from P.Gmc. *raubojanan. A common Gmc. formation (cf. Du. berooven, Ger. berauben, Goth. biraubon). Since c.1650, mostly in ref. to life, hope, loved ones, and other immaterial possessions. Past tense forms bereaved and bereft have co-existed since 14c., now slightly differentiated in meaning, the former applied to loss of loved ones, the latter to circumstances.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bereavement Gifts
Send a caring gift of ham in times of bereavement.
www.applewoodfarms.com
Grief bereavement
Answers to your questions on dealing with grief, loss and more.
yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com
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