bereftly
gb/bˈɛɹəftli/ us/bˈɛɹəftli/
C1
English
összetörten, árván
C1
LITERARY
1
összetörten
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] [verbs] bereftly
After the funeral, he stood bereftly at the doorway, unsure where to go next.
A temetés után összetörten állt az ajtóban, és nem tudta, merre menjen tovább.
She stared bereftly at the empty cot, unable to speak.
Összetörten bámulta az üres kiságyat, képtelen volt megszólalni.
When the call ended, he sat bereftly in the quiet room.
Learner examples
She looked bereftly after the bad news.
A rossz hír után összetörten nézett maga elé.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with the adjective bereft (e.g., 'a bereft parent'); bereftly describes an action (e.g., 'looked bereftly').
Meaning
with grief and emptiness
Collocations
look bereftly
|stare bereftly
|gaze bereftly
|stand bereftly
|sit bereftly
|speak bereftly
|ask bereftly
|wait bereftly
|walk bereftly
|turn bereftly
Synonyms
desolately (Emphasizes emptiness and hopelessness.)
|
mournfully (Emphasizes grief and mourning.)
|
sadly (More general and less intense.)
Antonyms
cheerfully (Opposite emotional tone; happy and upbeat.)
|
confidently (Opposite sense of helplessness or shock.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|life_events
Definition
in a very sad way because of a loss
In a way that shows deep sadness, loneliness, or shock after a loss.
C2
LITERARY
2
árván
C1
Usage pattern:
[something] [verbs] bereftly
The shelves looked bereftly bare after the stock was cleared out.
A készlet kiürítése után a polcok szinte árván üresnek tűntek.
Without its sign, the storefront stood bereftly on the corner.
Cégtábla nélkül az üzlet árván állt a sarkon.
The frame hung bereftly on the wall after the painting was removed.
Common mistake:
In modern English, this sense is usually expressed with 'without' or 'lacking'; bereftly can sound poetic or unusual.
Meaning
as if lacking something essential
Collocations
seem bereftly
|appear bereftly
|hang bereftly
|sit bereftly
|lie bereftly
Synonyms
emptily (Focuses on absence or hollowness rather than loss.)
|
blankly (Often refers to expression or look with no response.)
Antonyms
fully (Opposite sense: complete, not lacking.)
|
abundantly (Opposite sense: more than enough.)
Themes
daily_life
|emotions
Definition
in a way that shows something is missing
In a way that suggests being deprived of something needed or expected.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bereftly
IPA
GB/bˈɛɹəftli/
US/bˈɛɹəftli/
Syllables & stress
bereftly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (bereftly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: bereftly
- Plural: bereftlies
Word family
Forms
bereftlies
noun
Core family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.