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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bereve, Bereif, v. Also: bereiff, byreif, -raif (bareiff), berewe, bereiwe, bereave, beraiwe. P.t. be-, bi-, byreft. P.p. berevit, berewed; bereiffit, be-, byreft, berefft, beraift. [ME. bereve, berefe (e.m.E. bereeve, -reave), p.t. and p.p. bereft(e, beraft(e, early ME. birævien, biræfen, OE. beréafian (ONhb. beréofiᵹa).]

1. tr. To take away by force or violence.(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 61.
Holland & Barbour he has berevit [M. bereiffit] 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 67.
Berevand thair gudis … and exponand the same in pray amangis thame c1590 J. Stewart 20/209.
For scho is reft, quha dois beraif my braine Ib. 30/20.
I sall beraiwe thame baith be dochtie deid 1611-57 Mure I. 58/9.
The rape hath nocht thy lyfe berewed(b) c1475 Wall. v. 423.
The hors scho saw that Wallace had berefft 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 25.
My spows … Fra hym byreft hys tressour Ib. xiii. v. 97.
My son ȝhe haue byreft 1533 Boece iii. xxi. 123 b.
Ane heird of wolfis … bereft ane, & bure him to the forest beside c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 584.
Yit God … him bereft frome all his wardlie wrak 1584 in Calderwood IV. 122.
The beds … [were] stogged with swords, to have bereft my life

2. With double object: To deprive (a person of something). 1513 Doug. iv. Prol. 30.
Dauid thou byreft hys prophecy Ib. xi. 97.
Sekand the way Forto bereif hir self the irksum lyve 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
That war to byreif hymm hys croune 1568 Haddington Mem. II. 271.
Quhome he thocht to bereif his lyfe a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxix. 42.
All wit and spreit … Is me bereft

3. To deprive of something. Also const. in. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 227/27.
He was in his speiche half bereft 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 567.
Myndand na thing ellis bot to … bereve him of his croun 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 262.
Pover women that wer caryand coillis to Edinburgh wer beraift of thame a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxix. 13.
The turtill trew bereft of joy 1587 Conv. Burghs I. 262.
To bereve thame of thair liberties 1605 Stewart Mem. 114.
Thay will nocht feill to bereiff him of his lyff 1624 Crim. Trials III. 572.
With ane settillit purpois … to bareiff him of his lyffe