The word "bereaved" comes from the Old English verb "reafian" (to plunder or rob) and the prefix "be-" to create the verb "bereafian" (to deprive of or to seize by force).   Therefore, to be bereaved literally means to have something—like a person, hope, or possession— "robbed" from one's life.  The related past participle form, "bereft," has a similar origin and is also used as an adjective to describe a state of being deprived or stripped of something important.  The sense of being "robbed" is still present in the modern meaning of bereavement, which is the deep sadness and sorrow caused by the death of a loved one.  Over time, the word expanded to include other, less tangible losses, such as the loss of hope or love, a usage that has been present since the mid-17th century.  

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the adjective "bereaved" was first used in English during the Middle English period, with the earliest evidence dating to before 1200.  It is first found in the "Notes to Layamon's Brut" and is derived from the verb "bereave".  The noun form, "bereavement," was first used in 1731, and the adjective "bereft" also emerged around the 14th century as a variation of the past participle. 

Examples of "bereaved" used in a sentence: 
"Then came the Angel of death before the due date and left his wife and sons bereaved." 
"My thoughts are with the bereaved families and prayers with the injured."
"More appalling than the scale of death was the spectacle of the bereaved survivors."
"All across the world, people felt bereaved and shocked by the death of Princess Diana." 
"Many bereaved parents may not be avid scrapbookers and just the word alone may be intimidating." 
"Medical experts have claimed that bereaved parents who have recently lost a child are at a greater risk of suicide." 

Examples of "bereavement" used in a sentence: 
In the context of a death: "The company's policy includes paid leave for employees who experience a bereavement". 
"The family is coping with a recent bereavement." 
"Staff in his office said he was dealing with 'a family bereavement'." 

In a broader sense of loss: "For many, the loss of their home was a profound bereavement". 
"Losing his business felt like a personal bereavement". 
"I actually feel as though I have suffered another bereavement."

Referring to support: "She found comfort in the bereavement support group". 
"She's a needy woman who would benefit from bereavement counselling to come to terms with her loss."