To deprive someone of something, especially to cause grief by taking away a loved one through death.
From Old English 'berēafian' (to rob), from 'be-' + 'reafian' (to rob/steal). The sense narrowed over time to specifically mean losing someone through death.
The root 'reave' is also where we get 'reaver' (a Viking raider who steals and 'reaves' wealth), so bereavement is technically what it feels like to be raided by death itself!
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