— bereavement , n. — bereaver , n.
/bi reev"/ , v.t., bereaved or bereft, bereaving .
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. Obs. to take away by violence.
[ bef. 900; ME bereven, OE bereafian; c. D berooven, G berauben, Goth biraubon. See BE-, REAVE 1 ]