Definition of bereave

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< berdache

bereaved >

be·reave    (b-rv) KEY 

TRANSITIVE VERB:
be·reaved or be·reft  (-rft) KEY , 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.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English bireven, to deprive, from Old English berafian; see reup- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
be·reavement(Noun), be·reaver(Noun)