bereave

Meaning

Verb

• To deprive by or as if by violence; to rob; to strip; to benim.
• To take away by destroying, impairing, or spoiling; take away by violence.
• To deprive of power; prevent.
• To take away someone or something that is important or close; deprive.
• To destroy life; cut off.

Origin

• From Middle English bireven, from Old English berēafian, from Proto-Germanic *biraubōną, and Old English berēofan; both equivalent to be- + reave. Cognate with Dutch beroven, German berauben, Danish berøve, Norwegian berøve, Swedish beröva, Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐍂𐌰𐌿𐌱𐍉𐌽.