bereave

views updated Jun 11 2018

be·reave / biˈrēv/ • v. (be bereaved) be deprived of a loved one through a profound absence, esp. due to the loved one's death: the year after they had been bereaved [as adj.] (bereaved) bereaved families [as pl. n.] (the bereaved) those who counsel the bereaved. DERIVATIVES: be·reave·ment n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

bereave

views updated Jun 08 2018

bereave OE. berēafian = OS. birōbon, OHG. biroubōn, Goth. biraubōn :- Gmc. *biraubōjan, f. *bi- BE- + *raubōjan REAVE.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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