Bereaved
/bɪˈriːvd/noun
Deprived of a loved one, especially by death.
Did you know?The word comes from Old English be- + reafian, meaning “to rob, plunder,” so its oldest sense is closer to being forcibly taken from than simply grieving.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
bereafian
“to deprive, rob, plunder”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*bi- + *raubōną
“to rob, plunder; take away”
Old English
OE
reaf
“plunder, booty”
Middle English
ME
bereven / bereven
“to deprive, take away”
Modern English
English
bereaved
“deprived of a close relation by death”