Archaic past tense form meaning deprived of or robbed of something, especially through loss or death.
From 'be-' (prefix making verbs) + 'reave' or 'bereave' (to rob/deprive), with '-eft' as an archaic past tense ending, similar to 'wept' or 'slept.'
This word shows how Old English past tenses were irregular and varied wildly—modern English has simplified to mostly '-ed' endings, but old texts are full of colorful past forms like this!
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