bereave

be·reave

verb \bi-ˈrēv, bē-\

be·reaved or be·reft\-ˈreft\be·reav·ing

Definition of BEREAVE

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of something —usually used with of <madam, you have bereft me of all words — Shakespeare>

2

: to take away (a valued or necessary possession) especially by force

Examples of BEREAVE

1. <news of a death in the family bereaved them of the unmitigated joy that normally prevails at a wedding>

Origin of BEREAVE

Middle English bereven, from Old English berēafian, from be- + rēafian to rob — more at reave

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BEREAVE

Synonyms: abate, deprive, divest, strip

Related Words: denude; cheat, clean (out), defraud, shortchange; bankrupt, disfurnish, impoverish

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Rhymes with BEREAVE

Abib, achieve, aggrieve, believe, cap sleeve, conceive, deceive, French leave, frost heave, Hoccleve, inweave, khedive, motive, naive, perceive, pet peeve, plain weave, qui vive, receive, relieve, reprieve, retrieve, shirtsleeve, shore leave, sick leave, unreeve, unweave, upheave