English

Verb

bereft

1. simple past tense and past participle of bereave

   bereft of strength – powerless

   bereft of gorm – in Yorkshire dialect – mindless one, idiot = gormless

Adjective

bereft ‎(not comparable)

1. (of a person) Pained by the loss of someone.
   • 2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities: Bladerunner's punishment for killing Reeva Steenkamp is but a frippery when set against the burden that her bereft parents, June and Barry, must carry [print version: No room for sentimentality in this tragedy, 13 September 2014, p. S22]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Sport):

     [Oscar] Pistorius's punishment for killing her [Reeva Steenkamp] that night is but a frippery when set against the burden that her bereft parents, June and Barry, must carry.

2. Deprived of, lacking, stripped of, robbed of.
   • 2011 November 3, David Ornstein, “Macc Tel-Aviv 1–2 Stoke”, in BBC Sport:

     The hosts had not lost in 12 home European games but looked shaky at the back and bereft of attacking ideas, inviting Stoke forward for further opportunities.

   • 1909, Robert W. Service, “The Ballad of One-Eyed Mike”, in Ballads of a Cheechako:

     And there I strove, and there I clove through the drift of icy streams; / And there I fought, and there I sought for the pay-streak of my dreams. ¶ So twenty years, with their hopes and fears and smiles and tears and such, / Went by and left me long bereft of hope of the Midas touch;

   • Dead Parrot Sketch

     Mr. Praline: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!

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