- Today's Word
Bereft
buh-REFT
Definition
- (adjective) Lacking or deprived of something, especially something emotionally important.
Example
He felt utterly bereft after the passing of his beloved dog.
Fun Fact
“Bereft” is the past participle of “bereave”—yes, the same root as “bereavement.” Often tied to grief or emotional emptiness, it’s a poetic word used in literature, such as in Tennyson’s line: “Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” which perfectly captures that bereft feeling.
(adjective) Fluent and confident in speech, but shallow, insincere, or lacking thought.
His glib explanation sounded convincing, but it crumbled under basic questioning.
Mid 17th century: probably from Low German glibberig, meaning “slippery.”