bereaved

[ bih-reevd ]
/ bɪˈrivd /

adjective

(of a person) greatly saddened at being deprived by death of a loved one.

noun

a bereaved person or persons (usually preceded by the): to extend condolences to the bereaved.

Origin of bereaved

1100–50; Middle English bireved, late Old English birēafod (past participle); see bereave, -ed2

OTHER WORDS FROM bereaved

un·be·reaved, adjective

Definition for bereaved (2 of 2)

bereave
[ bih-reev ]
/ bɪˈriv /

verb (used with object), be·reaved or be·reft, be·reav·ing.

to deprive and make desolate, especially by death (usually followed by of): Illness bereaved them of their mother.
to deprive ruthlessly or by force (usually followed by of): The war bereaved them of their home.
Obsolete. to take away by violence.

Origin of bereave

before 900; Middle English bereven, Old English berēafian; cognate with Dutch berooven, German berauben, Gothic biraubōn. See be-, reave1

OTHER WORDS FROM bereave

be·reave·ment, noun be·reav·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for bereaved

British Dictionary definitions for bereaved (1 of 2)

bereaved
/ (bɪˈriːvd) /

adjective

having been deprived of something or someone valued, esp through death

British Dictionary definitions for bereaved (2 of 2)

bereave
/ (bɪˈriːv) /

verb (tr)

(usually foll by of) to deprive (of) something or someone valued, esp through death
obsolete to remove by force
See also bereft

Word Origin for bereave

Old English bereafian; see reave 1