▪ I. bereft, ppl. a.
(bɪˈrɛft)
[f. bereave.]
1. Forcibly deprived, robbed, having lost the possession or use of; void of.
| 1586 Bright Melanch. xvii. 105 Man transported with passion is utterly bereft of advisement. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. v. ii. 143 A woman mou'd, is like a fountaine troubled..thicke, bereft of beautie. 1699 Pomfret Love triumph. over Reason 194 Not quite bereft Of sense, tho' very small remains were left. 1858 J. Martineau Stud. Chr. 108 A pinched and anxious mind bereft of power. |
† 2. Taken away, removed, quite gone. Obs.
| 1531 Elyot Gov. iii. xxiii. Deade or birefte from the minde. |
3. Deprived of a near relation, bereaved. rare.
| 1828 Scott F.M. Perth, The helpless and bereft father. |
▪ II. † beˈreft, v. Obs. rare.
[f. prec.]
By-form of bereave: to deprive.
| 1557 Recorde Whetst. A iij, To berefte the realme of some singulare commoditie. 1564 Haward Eutropius To Rdr. 6 That Tully should..bereft y⊇ Grecians of theyr exactnesse in all sciences. |