The state of being deprived of a loved one through death. The period of mourning and grief following such a loss.
From Middle English 'bereaven', meaning 'to rob, take away by force', from Old English 'bereafian'. The 'be-' prefix intensifies 'reave' (to rob). Originally meant any forceful taking away, but narrowed to specifically mean loss through death by the 16th century.
The word 'bereavement' literally means 'to be robbed,' reflecting the universal feeling that death steals our loved ones from us. Different cultures have vastly different bereavement periods - from Victorian England's elaborate two-year mourning rituals to cultures that celebrate the deceased's transition to another realm.
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