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Antonyms for bereave

Grammar : Verb
Spell : bih-reev
Phonetic Transcription : bɪˈriv

Definition of bereave

Origin :
  • Old English bereafian "to deprive of, take away, seize, rob," from be + reafian "rob, plunder," from Proto-Germanic *raubojanan, from PIE *reup- "to snatch" (see rapid). A common Germanic formation (cf. Old Frisian birava "despoil," Old Saxon biroban, Dutch berooven, Old High German biroubon, German berauben, Gothic biraubon). Since mid-17c., mostly in reference to life, hope, loved ones, and other immaterial possessions. Past tense forms bereaved and bereft have co-existed since 14c., now slightly differentiated in meaning, the former applied to loss of loved ones, the latter to circumstances.
  • verb deprive
Example sentences :
  • What we love that we have, but by desire we bereave ourselves of the love.
  • Extract from : « Essays, First Series » by Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • For as for that which doth not, it is its own fault and loss, if it bereave itself of her light.
  • Extract from : « Meditations » by Marcus Aurelius
  • Receive, and believe, and bereave should be cut out at once.
  • Extract from : « How Doth the Simple Spelling Bee » by Owen Wister
  • I think of the fathers and mothers whom further fighting must bereave.
  • Extract from : « Foch the Man » by Clara E. Laughlin
  • It seemed as if God intended to bereave us of her, for he brought her even to death's door.
  • Extract from : « The Wonders of Prayer » by Various
  • The loss of all others will not bereave you of happiness if this be possessed.
  • Extract from : « Jane Talbot » by Charles Brockden Brown
  • And yet imperious necessity may bereave us even of that joy.
  • Extract from : « Jane Talbot » by Charles Brockden Brown
  • Possibly (but I hardly think so) the critique was afterwards shortened, so as to bereave it of this merit.
  • Extract from : « The Germ » by Various
  • I hold it not a brotherly part to desire to bereave me of my two children at once.
  • Extract from : « History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia » by Charles Campbell
  • They whom it must bereave seemed for the time immeasurably removed from the fact.
  • Extract from : « The Daughter of the Storage » by William Dean Howells

Synonyms for bereave

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019