Deep and poignant distress or sadness, often caused by bereavement. When someone you love dies, you usually feel grief, but that is not the only cause of that emotion. I have felt grief when I've moved away from my friends and even when a favorite television program has been cancelled.

Grief can be heralded by loud weeping and tears, but sometimes only be a sense of strong melancholy. I try not to begrudge someone else's grief; when you feel it, you feel it genuine and hard, and there's no way around it. 

Sometimes, I have felt grief when I can't get online to surf on Everything2 -- but then I know it's time to go outside, get some sun, and drink a grape soda.