How Do You Spell BEREAVE?

Pronunciation: [bɪɹˈiːv] (IPA)

Bereave is a verb that means to experience the death of a loved one. It is pronounced /bɪˈriːv/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The word is spelled with "ea" instead of "ie" because the "ea" vowel combination represents a long "e" sound in English, similar to "meet" or "preach". The second "e" in the word is silent, which can make the spelling confusing for some. However, it is important to remember that bereave is spelled with "ea" and pronounced with a long "e" sound.

BEREAVE Meaning and Definition

1. Bereave is a verb that refers to the act or state of being deprived or robbed of something or someone of great value or significance, typically through death. It is derived from the Old English word "bereafian," which means "to deprive." To bereave someone means to cause them deep sorrow, grief, or distress due to the loss or absence of a beloved person or cherished possession.

   When used in the context of death, to bereave primarily implies the loss of a loved one, resulting in feelings of grief, sadness, and emotional emptiness. It signifies the experience of being left behind, left without the presence, companionship, or support that was once shared. The term can also be extended to non-human subjects, such as bereaving a community or an organization after the loss of a prominent figure who played a crucial role.

   Additionally, bereave can denote the act of being bereft of something else of significant importance. This can include the loss of a particular ability, an opportunity, a relationship, or even a sense of security. It encompasses the emotional and psychological impact resulting from the absence of the mentioned elements, leading to a deep sense of longing, mourning, or even desolation.

   Overall, bereave encompasses the concept of experiencing profound loss or deprivation, whether it is due to death or other significant circumstances, and carries the connotation of coping with sorrow, grief, and the process of healing.

2. To take from; to deprive of; to render destitute.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for BEREAVE

• berlive
• baleave
• breage
• berage
• bereived
• beleaver
• breeve
• beeive
• bereau
• berege
• beleav
• beave
• breive
• beheave
• beileave
• beleave
• bereak
• beahave
• lerave
• beleve
• sereve
• beieve
• belieave
• breaved
• breafe
• braave
• beleafe
• bereved
• dererve
• bealeave
• bleave
• dereve
• beleaive
• beleeve
• beliave
• nereve
• bileave
• breahe
• bereavs
• bereive
• begerave
• begreave
• beleage
• threave
• unbereave
• berteade
• berende
• beeaven
• beseage
• Begresve
• Beweapp
• aerwave
• aervave
• Beaweake
• bereivs
• Berlane
• Beeavs

Etymology of BEREAVE

The word bereave can be traced back to Middle English, where it was spelled as bireven or berove. Its etymology can be further broken down as follows:

- The prefix be- in Middle English meant deprive, and it is also found in words like besiege or bewitch.

- The root of bereave is the Old English word reafian, which means to rob or to plunder.

- The combination of be- and reafian eventually evolved into bereave in Middle English, carrying the meaning of to deprive someone of something, especially through death.

Overall, the etymology of bereave can be understood as to deprive or rob someone (especially of life or loved ones).

Conjugate verb Bereave

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have bereaved

you would have bereaved

he/she/it would have bereaved

we would have bereaved

they would have bereaved

I would have bereave

you would have bereave

he/she/it would have bereave

we would have bereave

they would have bereave

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been bereaving

you would have been bereaving

he/she/it would have been bereaving

we would have been bereaving

they would have been bereaving

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would bereave

you would bereave

he/she/it would bereave

we would bereave

they would bereave

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be bereaving

you would be bereaving

he/she/it would be bereaving

we would be bereaving

they would be bereaving

FUTURE

I will bereave

you will bereave

he/she/it will bereave

we will bereave

they will bereave

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be bereaving

you will be bereaving

he/she/it will be bereaving

we will be bereaving

they will be bereaving

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have bereaved

you will have bereaved

he/she/it will have bereaved

we will have bereaved

they will have bereaved

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been bereaving

you will have been bereaving

he/she/it will have been bereaving

we will have been bereaving

they will have been bereaving

IMPERATIVE

you bereave

we let´s bereave

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to bereave

PAST

I bereaved

you bereaved

he/she/it bereaved

we bereaved

they bereaved

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was bereaving

you were bereaving

he/she/it was bereaving

we were bereaving

they were bereaving

PAST PARTICIPLE

bereaved; bereft

bereaved

PAST PERFECT

I had bereaved

you had bereaved

he/she/it had bereaved

we had bereaved

they had bereaved

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been bereaving

you had been bereaving

he/she/it had been bereaving

we had been bereaving

they had been bereaving

PRESENT

I bereave

you bereave

he/she/it bereaves

we bereave

they bereave

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am bereaving

you are bereaving

he/she/it is bereaving

we are bereaving

they are bereaving

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

bereaving

PRESENT PERFECT

I have bereaved

you have bereaved

he/she/it has bereaved

we have bereaved

they have bereaved

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been bereaving

you have been bereaving

he/she/it has been bereaving

we have been bereaving

they have been bereaving

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it bereave

SIMPLE PAST

I bereaved; bereft

you bereaved; bereft

he/she/it bereaved; bereft

we bereaved; bereft

they bereaved; bereft