Bereave

Pronunciation: /bɪˈriv/

Definitions of bereave

verb to deprive or take away something, especially through death

Example Sentences

A1 She was bereaved of her beloved pet dog last week.

A2 The family was bereaved by the sudden loss of their grandfather.

B1 The company was bereaved of its most talented employee when she decided to resign.

B2 The community was bereaved by the tragic accident that took the lives of several young people.

C1 The nation was bereaved by the unexpected death of the beloved leader.

C2 The artist's fans were bereaved when he announced his retirement from music.

Examples of bereave in a Sentence

formal The sudden loss of her husband bereave her of all joy.

informal Losing her job will bereave her of financial security.

slang I can't believe they bereaved him of his championship title.

figurative The storm's strong winds seemed to bereave the trees of their leaves.

Grammatical Forms of bereave

• past tense: bereaved
• plural: bereaved
• comparative: more bereaved
• superlative: most bereaved
• present tense: bereaves
• future tense: will bereave
• perfect tense: have bereaved
• continuous tense: is bereaving
• singular: bereaves
• positive degree: bereave
• infinitive: bereave
• gerund: bereaving
• participle: bereaved

Origin and Evolution of bereave

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'bereave' originated from the Old English word 'bereafian', which meant to deprive or take away.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'bereave' has evolved to specifically refer to the act of losing a loved one through death, emphasizing the sense of loss and grief.