bereft
bereft Lexical Profile
bereft Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Deprived of or lacking something, especially a nonmaterial quality or asset (usually followed by 'of').
"After the prolonged drought, the valley looked completely bereft of plant life."
Deeply sad and lonely, especially because someone has died or left.
"He felt utterly bereft when his lifelong companion passed away."
Word Nuance & Usage
Historically the past participle of the verb 'bereave', 'bereft' is now used primarily as a predicate adjective followed by 'of' when meaning deprived or lacking (e.g., 'bereft of hope'), whereas 'bereaved' is typically used to describe someone mourning the death of a loved one.
• Rhymes for bereft
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'berēafod', the past participle of 'berēafian' (to deprive of, take away by violence, rob), formed from the intensive prefix 'be-' and 'rēafian' (to rob, plunder).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.