Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BEREFT
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Today's "bereft" means missing something important, in a sad, regrettable way.
Let's recall some other terms for lacking important stuff:
1. C____ow, meaning lacking maturity and lacking experience.
2. D___th, meaning a lack of something that's dearly valued.
3. N______nce, meaning a total lack of knowledge.
How did you do here? Could you recall a few without clicking? If so, that's awesome, and your vocabulary is not at all bereft of useful words! :)
make your point with...
"BEREFT"
An old synonym of both "rob" and "tear" is "reave," and to bereave someone is to rob him of something. People who are bereaved are grieving because their relative has recently died: the implication is that death has torn that person away or robbed them of that person.
More generally, anything or anyone bereft of something is lacking that thing completely, as if it's been stolen away.
Pronunciation:
bih REFT
Part of speech:
Adjective.
(Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late."
They can be used in two ways:
1. Right before a noun, as in "a bereft thing" or "a bereft person."
2. After a linking verb, as in "It was bereft" or "He was bereft.")
Other forms:
none
How to use it:
You usually say that someone or something is bereft of something: someone bereft of power or prestige, someone bereft of knowledge or sense, something bereft of humor or interest or beauty, etc.
You can also simply talk about a bereft thing, a bereft person, or something or someone bereft, as long as it's clear what they're missing (what they're bereft of). Add an adverb, if you like: "a stylistically bereft novel," "an economically bereft nation." (My preference is the more common word order: "a novel bereft of style," "a nation bereft of spending power.")
With "bereft," you might mean that something used to be there and then was taken away: "an aging beauty queen now bereft of her good looks," "a pop star bereft of his usual crowd of adoring fans." Or you might mean that something has always been missing: "a child bereft of tact and manners."
examples:
Martin Niemöller's "First They Came" is a poetic speech about failing to help others until you yourself end up bereft of help.
Bereft of courtesy, the message garnered few of the donations it demanded.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "bereft" means when you can explain it without saying "sadly lacking" or "totally robbed of something."
try it out:
Think of something that frustrates you because it's missing an important element, and fill in the blanks: "I can't even deal with _____, bereft as (it is / they are) of any _____."
Example: "I can't even deal with those ceremonies, bereft as they are of any structure or sense of timing."
before you review:
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
Well-Named Creatures:
Some names for animals and other creatures define themselves instantly or after a brief moment’s thought: anteater, grasshopper, hummingbird, seahorse, octopus (eight-foot). But other names deserve some exploration; they hold hidden clues about what the animals look like or what they do. And sometimes the names reveal how baffled people were when they first caught a glimpse of the creatures and tried to name them. This month, I’ll give you the literal meaning of a creature's name, and you come up with what it is. Answers will appear in alphabetical order this month. (Oh, and the answers might be animals, birds, insects, or even extinct creatures.) Enjoy!
From yesterday: A "sea hog," or, more literally, a "pork fish" is a p______.
Answer: It's a porpoise, whose name comes from Latin.
Try this one today: A "wing-fingered" creature is a p______.
review today's word:
1. A close opposite of BEREFT is
A. ABIDING
B. ABOUNDING
C. ABUSING
2. An essay bereft of substance is like _____.
A. a Christmas stocking full of goodies
B. betting on both teams
C. a night without stars
Answers are below.
a final word:
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.
Answers to review questions:
1. B
2. C
Today's "bereft" means missing something important, in a sad, regrettable way.
"BEREFT" An old synonym of both "rob" and "tear" is "reave," and to bereave someone is to rob him of something. People who are bereaved are grieving because their relative has recently died: the implication is that death has torn that person away or robbed them of that person. Pronunciation: Part of speech:
Martin Niemöller's "First They Came" is a poetic speech about failing to help others until you yourself end up bereft of help.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "bereft" means when you can explain it without saying "sadly lacking" or "totally robbed of something."
Think of something that frustrates you because it's missing an important element, and fill in the blanks: "I can't even deal with _____, bereft as (it is / they are) of any _____."
Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first.
1. A close opposite of BEREFT is
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
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