[15:18 bsb]$ dict bereft From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Bereave \Be*reave"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bereaved}, {Bereft}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bereaving.}] [OE. bireven, AS. bere['a]fian. See {Be-}, and {Reave.}] 1. To make destitute; to deprive; to strip; -- with of before the person or thing taken away. Madam, you have bereft me of all words. --Shak. Bereft of him who taught me how to sing. --Tickell. 2. To take away from. [Obs.] All your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you; all is lost. --Shak. 3. To take away. [Obs.] Shall move you to bereave my life. --Marlowe. Note: The imp. and past pple. form bereaved is not used in reference to immaterial objects. We say bereaved or bereft by death of a relative, bereft of hope and strength. Syn: To dispossess; to divest.