Beestings, bēst′ingz,n.the first milk drawn from a cow after calving. [A.S.býsting,béost; Ger. and Dut.biest.]
Beet, bēt,n.a plant with a carrot-shaped succulent root, eaten as food, from which sugar is extracted.—ns.Beet′-fly, a two-winged insect, which deposits its eggs on beet or mangel-wurzel, and whose larvæ are injurious to the plant;Beet′root, the root of the beet plant. [A.S.béte(Fr.bette)—L.bēta.]
Beet,Bete, bēt,v.t.(obs.exceptdial.) to improve, mend, to kindle a fire, to rouse. [A.S.bóetan,bétan; cf.bót,Boot.]
Beetle, bē′tl,n.an order of insects technically known as Coleoptera, usually with four wings, the front pair forming hard and horny covers for those behind, which alone are used in flight.—TheBlack Beetleor cockroach is not a true beetle. [M.E.bityl—A.S.bitula,bitela,bítan, to bite.]
Beetle, bē′tl,n.a heavy wooden mallet used for driving wedges, crushing or beating down paving-stones, or the like: a wooden pestle-shaped utensil for mashing potatoes, beating linen, &c.—n.Bee′tle-head, a heavy, stupid fellow.—adj.Bee′tle-head′ed. [A.S.bíetel; cog. withbéatan, to beat.]
Beetle-browed, bē′tl-browd,adj.with overhanging or prominent brow: scowling.—v.i.Bee′tle, to jut, to hang over—first used by Shakespeare.—n.Beet′ling.—p.adj.jutting out: prominent: overhanging. [Dr Murray notes that the word is first found in the compoundbitel-browed, in the 14th century, and favours the explanation, 'with eyebrows like a beetle's'—i.e. projecting eyebrows. SeeBeetle(1).]
Beeves, bēvz,n.pl.cattle, oxen. [SeeBeef.]
Befall, be-fawl′,v.t.to fall or happen to: to occur to.—v.i.to happen or come to pass: (Spens.) to fall in one's way:—pr.p.befall′ing;pa.t.befell′;pa.p.befall′en. [A.S.befeallan. SeeFall.]
Befana,Beffana, be-fä′na,n.an Epiphany present or gift—a corruption ofEpiphania, which name in Italy has become personified for children as a toy-bringing witch or fairy calledLa Befana.
Befit, be-fit′,v.t.to fit, or be suitable to: to be proper to, or right for:—pr.p.befit′ting;pa.p.befit′ted.—adj.Befit′ting.—adv.Befit′tingly. [Pfx.be-, andFit.]
Beflower, be-flow′ėr,v.t.to cover or besprinkle with flowers.
Befoam, be-fōm′,v.t.to bespatter or cover with foam.
Befogged, be-fogd′,adj.enveloped in fog: confused.
Befool, be-fōōl′,v.t.to make a fool of, or deceive: to treat as a fool.
Before, be-fōr′,prep.in front of (timeorplace): in presence or sight of (BeforeGod): under the cognisance of, as in before the court, the magistrate, or the house: previous to: in preference to: superior to.—adv.in front: sooner than hitherto.—conj.previous to the time when (often withthat).—advs.Before′hand, before the time: by way of preparation;Before′time, in former time.—To be beforehand with, to forestall in any action. [A.S.beforan. SeeFore.]
Befortune, be-for′tūn,v.t.(Shak.) to happen to, to befall.
Befoul, be-fowl′,v.t.to make foul: to soil.
Befriend, be-frend′,v.t.to act as a friend to: to favour.
Befringe, be-frinj′,v.t.to adorn with fringes.
Beg.Same asBey.
Beg, beg,v.i.to ask alms or charity, esp. habitually (withof,from;for, of the thing asked).—v.t.to ask earnestly: to beseech: to pray: to take for granted what ought to have been proved, esp. in the phrase in logic, 'to beg the question'—the fallacy of thePetitio Principii:—pr.p.beg′ging;pa.p.begged.—n.Beg′gar, one who begs: one who lives by begging: a mean fellow, a poor fellow—often used with a playful and even affectionate sense.—v.t.to reduce to beggary: to exhaust or impoverish: (fig.) to go beyond the resources of, as of description.—ns.Beg′gardom, the fraternity of beggars;Beg′garliness.—adj.Beggarly, poor: mean: worthless.—adv.meanly.—ns.Beg′gar-my-neigh′bour, a game at cards which goes on till one of the players has gained all the other's cards;Beg′gary, extreme poverty.—adv.Beg′gingly.—To beg off, to obtain another's release through entreaty, to seek that one's self may be relieved of some penalty or liability.—To go a-begging, to be in want of a purchaser, or of a person to fill it (of a situation, &c.). [The ety. is very obscure; the wordsbegandbeggarfirst appear in the 13th century, and Dr Murray thinks the most likely derivation is from the O. Fr.begart,begard, andbegar(L.beghardus=beghard), or its synonymbeguineand derivative verbbeguigner,beguiner, to act the beguin. TheBeghardsorBeguineswere a lay mendicant order, and in the 13th century mendicants calling themselves by these names swarmed over Western Europe.]
Begad, be-gad′,interj.a minced oath, softened from 'By God.'
Began, bē-gan′,pa.t.ofBegin.
Begem, be-jem′,v.t.to adorn, as with gems.
Beget, be-get′,v.t.to produce or cause: to generate: to produce as an effect, to cause:—pr.p.beget′ting;pa.t.begat′,begot′;pa.p.begot′,begot′ten.—n.Beget′ter, one who begets: a father: the agent that occasions or originates anything. [A.S.begitan, to acquire. SeeGet.]
Beghard.SeeBeg.
Begift, be-gift′,v.t.to present with gifts.
Begild, be-gild′,v.t.to gild: to cover or overlay with gold-leaf.
Begin, be-gin′,v.i.to take rise: to enter on something new: to commence.—v.t.to enter on: to commence (withat,with,upon):—pr.p.begin′ning;pa.t.began′;pa.p.begun′.—ns.Begin′ner, one who begins: one who is beginning to learn or practise anything;Begin′ning, origin or commencement: rudiments—(Spens.)Beginne′.—adj.Begin′ningless. [A.S.beginnan(more usuallyonginnan), frombe, andginnan, to begin.]
Begird, be-gird′,v.t.to gird or bind with a girdle; to surround or encompass (with):—pa.t.begirt′,begird′ed;pa.p.begirt′. [A.S.begyrdan. SeeGird.]
Beglerbeg, bėg′lėr-bėg,n.the governor of a Turkish province, in rank next to the grand vizier. [Turk., lit. 'bey of beys.']
Begloom, be-glōōm′,v.t.to render gloomy.
Begnaw, be-naw′,v.t.to gnaw or bite, to eat away.
Begone, be-gon′,interj.lit. be gone! be off! get away! InWoe′-begone′, beset with woe, we have thepa.p.of A.S.begán, to go round, to beset.
Begonia, be-gōn′ya,n.a genus of plants cultivated in our greenhouses for their pink flowers and their remarkable unequal-sided and often coloured leaves—'Elephant's Ears,''Angel's Wings.' [Named from the botanist MichelBegon, 1638-1710.]
Begored, be-gōrd′,adj.(Spens.) besmeared with gore.
Begot, be-got′,Begotten,be-got′n,pa.p.ofBeget.
Begrime, be-grīm′,v.t.to grime or soil deeply.
Begrudge, be-gruj′,v.t.to grudge: to envy any one the possession of.
Beguile, be-gīl′,v.t.to cheat or deceive: to divert attention from anything tedious or painful: to divert or amuse: to wile any one into some course.—ns.Beguile′ment;Beguil′er.—adv.Beguil′ingly. [SeeGuile.]
Beguines, beg′in (seeBeg).—n.Beguinage(beg′in-āj), an establishment forBeguines.
Begum, bē′gum,n.a Hindu princess or lady of rank. [Urdubegam.]
Begun, be-gun′,pa.p.ofBegin.
Behalf, be-häf′,n.favour or benefit: cause: sake, account: part—only in phrases 'on,' 'in behalf of,' 'on his behalf.' [M. E.behalve—A.S.be healfe, by the side. SeeHalf.]
Behappen, be-hap′n,v.t.(Spens.) to happen to.
Behave, be-hāv′,v.t.to bear or carry, to conduct (withself).—v.i.to conduct one's self, also to conduct one's self well: to act.—n.Behaviour(be-hāv′yür), conduct: manners or deportment, esp. good manners: general course of life: treatment of others.—To be upon one's behaviour, to be placed where one's best behaviour is politic or necessary. [Formed, according to Dr Murray, in 15th century frombe-andHave; apparently unconnected with A.S.behabban.]
Behead, be-hed′,v.t.to cut off the head.—ns.Behead′al(rare);Behead′ing, the act of cutting off the head.
Beheld, be-held′,pa.t.andpa.p.ofBehold.
Behemoth, bē′he-moth,n.an animal described in the book of Job, usually taken to be the hippopotamus. [Either the pl. of Heb.behêmâh, a beast, or a Hebraistic form of the Egyptianp-ehe-mout, 'water-ox.']
Behest, be-hest′,n.command: charge. [A.S.behǽs, a promise. SeeHest.]
Behight, be-hīt′,v.t.(Spens.) to promise, to entrust, to speak to, to command, to reckon or esteem to be:—pr.p.behīght′ing;pa.t.behōte′;pa.p.behīght.—n.(obs.) a vow, a promise. [A.S.behátan,be-, andhátan, to call.]
Behind, be-hīnd′,prep.at the back of (place, or assupport): remaining after or coming after (time,rank,order): inferior to, or not so far advanced as.—adv.at the back, in the rear: backward: past.—adj.oradv.Behind′hand, being behind: tardy, or in arrears of debt, &c.: clandestine. [A.S.behindan; Ger.hinten. SeeHind.]
Behold, be-hōld′,v.t.to look upon: to contemplate.—v.i.to look: to fix the attention:—pa.t.andpa.p.beheld′.—imper.orinterj.see! lo! observe!—adj.Behold′en, bound in gratitude: obliged (withto).—n.Behold′er, one who beholds: an onlooker.—adj.Behold′ing(Shak.), beholden.—n.(Shak.) sight, contemplation. [A.S.behealdan, to hold, observe—pfx.be-, andhealdan, to hold.]
Behoof, be-hōōf′,n.benefit: convenience (withto,for,on).
Behot,Behote(Spens.)pa.t.ofBehight.
Behove,Behoove, be-hōōv,v.t.to be fit, right, or necessary for—now only used impersonally withit.—adj.Behove′ful, useful: profitable.—adv.Behove′fully(obs.). [M. E.behóf, dat. behove; A.S.behófian, to be fit, to stand in need of.]
Behowl, be-howl′,v.t.(Shak.) to howl at. Warburton first suggested this as an emendation for 'behold' inMidsummer Night's Dream, V. 379.
Beige, bāzh,n.a woollen fabric made of undyed wool. [Fr.]
Bein, bēn,adj.andadv.(Scot.) comfortable: well off: well found: (slang) good.—n.Bein′ness. [M. E.bene, of dubious origin; the derivation has been sought in Scand.beinn, or in L.bene, Fr.bien.]
Being, bē′ing,n.existence: substance: essence: any person or thing existing.—adj.Bē′ing, existing, present.—adj.Bē′ingless.—n.Bē′ingness. [From thepr.p.ofBe.]
Beinked, bē-inkt′,p.adj.smeared with ink.
Bejade, be-jād′,v.t.(obs.) to tire out.
Bejan, bē′jan,n.a freshman at the universities of Aberdeen and St Andrews, and formerly in several continental universities. [Fr.bejaune, a novice, frombec jaune, 'yellow beak,' a term used for a nestling or unfledged bird.]
Bejesuit, be-jėz′ū-it,v.t.to initiate or seduce into Jesuitism.
Bejewel, be-jōō′ėl,v.t.to deck with jewels.
Bekah, bē′ka,n.(B.) a half-shekel (4.39 drs. avoir.). [Heb.]
Bekiss, be-kis′,v.t.to cover with kisses.
Beknave, be-nāv′,v.t.to call or treat as a knave.
Beknown, bē-nōn′,p.adj.known, acquainted.
Belabour, be-lā′bur,v.t.to beat soundly.
Bel-accoyle, bel-ak-koil′,n.(Spens.) favourable or kind reception. [O. Fr.bel acoil, fair welcome. SeeAccoil.]
Belace, be-lās′,v.t.to adorn with lace.
Belamour, bel′a-mōōr,n.(Spens.) a gallant: a fair lady: a kind of flower. [Fr.bel amour, fair love.]
Belamy, bel′a-mi,n.(Spens.) a good or intimate friend. [Fr.bel ami, fair friend.]
Belate, be-lāt′,v.t.to make late: to retard:—pr.p.belāt′ing;pa.p.belāt′ed.—p.adj.Belāt′ed, made too late: out of date: benighted.—n.Belāt′edness.
Belaud, be-lawd′,v.t.to laud or praise highly.
Belaying-pin.
Belay, be-lā′,v.t.(naut.) to fasten a running rope by coiling it round a cleat orBelay′ing-pin: to make fast: (Spens.) to lay ornament round anything.—Belay there(naut. slang), hold! that is enough. [A.S.belecgan; Ger.belegen, Dut.beleggen. SeeLay.]
Belch, belch, belsh,v.t.to void wind from the stomach by the mouth: to eject violently: to cast up, as of the smoke from a volcano or a cannon.—n.eructation. [A.S.bealcian; Dut.balken.]
Belcher, bel′sher,n.a neckerchief with dark-blue ground, mottled with white spots, each having a dark-blue spot in the centre. [From JimBelcher, a famous English boxer.]
Beldam,Beldame, bel′dam,n.an old woman, esp. an ugly one: a hag, a furious woman: (obs.) a grandmother. [Formed fromdam, mother, andbel-, expressing relationship. Cf.belsire.]
Beleaguer, be-lēg′ėr,v.t.to lay siege to.—n.Beleag′uerment. [Dut.belegeren, to besiege—be, andleger, camp. SeeLeaguer.]
Belee, be-lē′,v.t.(Shak.) to place on the lee-side of.
Belemnite, bel′em-nīt,n.a fossil pointed like a dart, being the internal shell of a genus of cephalopods, formerly known asThunder-bolt,Thunder-stone,Elf-bolt. [Gr.belemnitēs—belemnon, a dart.]
Belfry, bel′fri,n.the part of a steeple or tower in which bells are hung: a bell-tower, sometimes standing apart: a movable wooden tower, used in the Middle Ages in attacking a fortification.—adj.Bel′fried, having a belfry. [Orig. and properly a watch-tower, from O. Fr.berfroi—Mid. High Ger.berchfrit—frid,frit, a tower,bergan, to protect.]
Belgard, bel-gärd′,n.(Spens.) fair or kind looks. [It.bel guardo, lovely look.]
Belgian, bel′ji-an,adj.belonging toBelgium, a country of Europe.—n.a native of Belgium.
Belgic, bel′jik,adj.pertaining to theBelgæwho anciently possessed Belgium, or toBelgium. [L.Belgicus—Belgæ, the Belgians.]
Belgravian, bel-grā′vi-an,adj.belonging toBelgravia(a fashionable part of London), or to fashionable life: aristocratic.
Belial, bēl′yal,n.a name for the devil, and, in Milton, for one of the fallen angels. Not a proper name in Old Test. [Heb.b’li-ya‛al,b’li, withoutya‛al, usefulness.]
Belie, be-lī′,v.t.to give the lie to: to speak falsely of: to present in a false character: to counterfeit: to be false to: falsify: (Shak.) to fill with lies:—pr.p.bely′ing;pa.p.belīed′. [A.S.be, andLie.]
Believe, be-lēv′,v.t.to regard as true: to trust in.—v.i.to be firmly persuaded of anything: to exercise faith (within,on): to think or suppose.—n.Belief′, persuasion of the truth of anything: faith: the opinion or doctrine believed: intuition, natural judgment (as used by some philosophers).—adjs.Belief′less;Believ′able, that may be believed.—n.Believ′er, one who believes: a professor of Christianity.—p.adj.Believ′ing, trustful.—adv.Believ′ingly.—The Belief(arch.), the Apostles' Creed.—To make believe, to pretend. [M. E.bileven—bi-,be-, andleven. Murray says thatbelieveis an erroneous spelling of the 17th century, prob. afterrelieve. The A.S. formgeléfansurvived to the 14th century; the present compound, which superseded it, appears in the 12th century.]
Belike, be-līk′,adv.probably: perhaps. [A.S. pfx.be-, andLike.]
Belittle, be-lit′l,v.t.to make small: to cause to appear small, to depreciate or disparage.—n.Belit′tlement.—adj.Belit′tling. [Pfx.be-, andLittle.]
Belive, be-līv′,adv.(Scot.) with speed: soon, erelong. [M. E.bi life;be,bí, by,life, dat. oflīf, life.]
Bell, bel,n.a hollow vessel of metal, which gives forth a ringing sound when struck by the tongue or clapper suspended inside—as inchurch-bell,hand-bell,alarm-bell,night-bell,marriage-bell, &c.: a corolla shaped like a bell: the body of a Corinthian or composite capital, without the surrounding foliage: anything bell-shaped, as indiving-bell,bell-glass, thebellor outward-turned orifice of a trumpet, &c.: a bell rung to tell the hour: (naut.) the bell struck on shipboard every half-hour as many times as there are half-hours of the watch elapsed—'two bells,' 'three bells,' &c., meaning that there are two or three half-hours past; the watch of four hours is eight bells.—v.t.to furnish with a bell, esp. inTo bell the cat, to take the leading part in any hazardous movement, from the ancient fable of the mice who proposed to hang a warning bell round the cat's neck.—ns.Bell′cote(archit.), an ornamentalBell-crank.structure made to contain one or two bells, and often crowned by a small spire;Bell′-crank, a rectangular lever in the form of a crank, used for changing the direction of bell-wires;Bell′-found′er, one who founds or casts bells;Bell′-glass, a bell-shaped glass for sheltering flowers;Bell′-hang′er, one who hangs and repairs bells;Bell′man, one who rings a bell, esp. on the streets, before making public announcements: a town-crier;Bell′-met′al, the metal of which bells are made—an alloy of copper and tin;Bell′-punch, a hand-punch containing a signal-bell, used for punching a hole in a ticket in order to keep a record of the number of fares taken;Bell′-ring′er, one whose business it is to ring a bell on stated occasions: a performer with musical hand-bells;Bell′-rope, the rope by which a bell is rung.—adj.Bell′-shaped.—ns.Bell′-tow′er, a tower built to contain one or more bells, a campanile;Bell′-tur′ret, a turret containing a bell-chamber, usually crowned with a spire;Bell′-weth′er, the leading sheep of a flock, on whose neck a bell is hung: (fig.) any loud, turbulent fellow, esp. the leader of a mob.—Bell, book, and candle, a phrase popularly used in reference to a form of excommunication ending with the words, 'Do to [shut] the book, quench the candle, ring the bell.'—To bearorcarry off the bell, to have or to gain the first place. [A.S.belle; cog. with Dut.bel.]
Bell, bel,n.a bubble formed in a liquid. [Ety. dub.; cf. Dut.bel, a bubble in water, perh. from L.bulla, bubble in water.]
Bell, bel,v.i.to bellow, roar: to utter loudly.—n.the cry of a stag at rutting-time. [A.S.bellan, to roar; cf. Ger.bellen.]
Belladonna, bel′la-don-na,n.the deadly nightshade or dwale, all parts of which are narcotic and poisonous from the presence therein of the alkaloid atropia: the drug prepared from the foregoing. [It.bella donna, fair lady; one property of belladonna is to enlarge the pupil, and so add a brilliance to the eyes.]
Bellarmine, bel′lar-mēn,n.a large stoneware drinking jug with a big belly and a narrow neck, decorated with a bearded face, originally that of CardinalBellarmine, made in mockery by the Dutch Protestants.
Belle, bel,n.a handsome woman: the chief beauty of a place: a fair lady generally. [Fr.belle—L.bella,bellus.]
Belles-lettres, bel-let′r,n.pl.polite or elegant literature, including poetry, fiction, criticism, æsthetics, &c.—ns.Bellet′rist,Bellet′trist.—adj.Belletris′tic. [Fr., lit. 'fine letters.']
Bellibone, bel′i-bōn,n.(Spens.) a beautiful and good woman.
Bellicose, bel′ik-ōs,adj.contentious, war-like.—adv.Bel′licosely.—n.Bellicos′ity. [L.bellicosus.]
Bellied, bel′lid,p.adj.with a belly, esp. a big belly, pot-bellied: bulging: puffed out. [SeeBelly.]
Belligerent, bel-ij′ėr-ėnt,adj.carrying on regular war.—n.a party or person waging such.—n.Bellig′erency. [L.belligerant-em,belligerāre, to wage war.]
Bellona, bel′lō-na,n.the Roman goddess of war—hence (fig.) a woman of great spirit and vigour.
Bellow, bel′lō,v.i.to roar like a bull: to make any violent outcry, often with sense of contempt or ridicule: to shout aloud: to roar, as of cannon, the ocean, &c.—with objective, to give forth a loud sound.—n.the roar of a bull: any deep sound or cry. [M. E.belwen; there is an A.S.bellan, to roar.]
Bellows, bel′lōz, orbel′lus,n.pl.an instrument for producing a current of air so as to blow up a fire, either in a kitchen, a furnace, or a forge—or for producing the current of air by which the pipes and reeds of an organ are sounded: (fig.) that which fans the fire of hatred, jealousy, &c.: the lungs. [Same asBelly(q.v.); now used only inpl., the sing. not having survived the 15th century.]
Belly, bel′li,n.the part of the body between the breast and the thighs, containing the bowels: the stomach, as the receptacle of the food: the bowels proper: the womb or uterus: the interior of anything: the bulging part of anything, as a bottle, or any concave or hollow surface, as of a sail: the inner or lower surface of anything, as opposed to theback, as of a violin, &c.—adj.ventral, abdominal: (theol.) belonging to the flesh, carnal.—v.i.to swell or bulge out.—ns.Bel′ly-band, a saddle-girth: a band fastened to the shafts of a vehicle, and passing under the belly of the horse drawing it;Bel′lyful, a sufficiency;Bel′ly-god, one who makes a god of his belly, a glutton.—p.adj.Bel′lying.—n.Bel′ly-tim′ber, provisions. [M. E.bali,bely—A.S.bælig,belig;bælg,belg, bag.]
Belomancy, bel′o-man-si,n.a kind of divination by means of arrows. [Gr.belos, a dart,manteia, divination.]
Belong, be-long′,v.i.to go along with: to pertain to: to be one's property: to be a part of, or appendage of, or in any way connected with: to be specially the business of: (U.S.) to be a native of, or have a residence in.—n.pl.Belong′ings, circumstances or relations of any person: possessions: persons connected, relatives: accessories. [Bi-,be-longen, intens. oflongen, with pfx.be-. SeeLong.]
Beloved, be-luvd′, orbe-luv′ed,p.adj.much loved, very dear—often compounded withwell-;best-, &c.—n.one who is much loved.—adj.Belov′ing(Shak.) = loving.
Below, be-lō′,prep.beneath in place, rank, or quality: underneath: not worthy of.—adv.in a lower place: (fig.) on earth, or in hell, as opposed to heaven. [Pfx.be-, and adj.Low.]
Belt, belt,n.a girdle, zone, or band: such a piece, as of leather, worn by way of ornament, or given as a prize or badge of victory in wrestling or the like: a broad strip of anything, different in colour or material: that which confines or restrains: (geog.) a strait.—v.t.to surround with a belt, or to invest formally with such, as in knighting a man: to encircle: to thrash with a belt.—p.adj.Belt′ed, wearing a belt, of a knight: marked with a belt, as the 'belted kingfisher.'—n.Belt′ing, flexible belts for the transmission of motion in machinery, made of leather, indiarubber, &c.—as inchainbelt,crossed belt,endless belt, &c.; a thrashing.—To hold the belt, to hold the championship in wrestling, boxing, or the like. [A.S.belt; Ice.belti, Gael.balt, L.balteus.]
Beltane, bel′tān,n.an ancient Celtic heathen festival, held in the beginning of May, when bonfires were lighted on the hills: the first day of May (O.S.)—one of the four old quarter-days of Scotland, the others being Lammas, Hallowmas, and Candlemas.—adj.inBeltanegames, &c. [Gael.bealltainn,beilteine; usually explained as 'Beal's fire,'Bealbeing a supposed Celtic deity who has been courageously identified with the Baal or Bel of the Phœnicians and other Semitic peoples, and Gael.teine, fire. But even this last is doubtful.]
Beluga, be-lōō′ga,n.the white whale, one of the dolphin family, closely allied to the narwhal, 12 to 16 feet long, of creamy-white colour, found in droves round Greenland and all over the Arctic seas: applied also to a great Russian sturgeon—theAcipenser Huso. [Russ.]
Belvedere, bel′ve-dēr,n.a pavilion or raised turret or lantern on the top of a house, open for the view, or to admit the cool evening breeze: a summer-house on an eminence in a park or garden. [It.belvedere;bel, beautiful,vedere, a view.]
Bema, bē′ma,n.the tribune or rostrum from which Athenian orators made their speeches—hence the apse or chancel of a basilica. [Gr.bēma, a step.]
Bemad, be-mad′,v.t.to madden.
Bemaul, be-mawl′,v.t.to maul thoroughly.
Bemazed, be-māzd′,p.adj.stupefied, bewildered.
Bembex, bem′beks,n.a genus of solitary sand-wasps, with broad heads and very large eyes, noted for their making a loud buzz during their rapid flight. [Gr.bembix.]
Bemean, be-mēn′,v.t.to make mean, to lower or debase: (obs.) to signify.
Bemire, be-mīr′,v.t.to soil with mire.—p.adj.Bemired′.
Bemoan, be-mōn′,v.t.to lament: bewail: to pity.—v.i.to grieve.—ns.Bemoan′er;Bemoan′ing.
Bemock, be-mok′,v.t.to mock at, to deride.
Bemoil, be-moil′,v.t.(Shak.) to bemire, to bedraggle.
Bemonster, be-mon′ster,v.t.to make monstrous: to regard or treat as a monster.
Bemouth, be-mowth′,v.i.to declaim, to overpraise.
Bemud, be-mud′,v.t.to bespatter with mud: to confuse.
Bemuddle, be-mud′l,v.t.to confuse or muddle completely.
Bemuffle, be-muf′l,v.t.to wrap or muffle up completely.
Bemuse, be-mūz′,v.t.to put in confusion: stupefy.
Ben, ben,n.a mountain peak. [Gael.beann.]
Ben, ben,prep.andadv.in toward the inner apartment of a house.—n.the inner apartment of a house, as opposed to theButor kitchen through which one must generally pass first.—To be far ben with one, to be on terms of great intimacy or friendship with;To live but and ben, to live respectively in these rooms, in close neighbourhood with any one. [M. E.binne—A.S.binnan, within.]
Bench, bensh,n.a long seat or form with or without a back: a seat in a boat: a mechanic's work-table: a judge's seat: the body or assembly of judges: a tribunal: the dignity of holding an official seat, as the 'bench of bishops,' the 'civic bench.'—v.t.to place on or furnish with benches.—ns.Bench′er, a senior member of an inn of court;Bench′ership;Bench′-mark, a surveyor's mark cut on a rock, gatepost, wall, or the like, into which a crooked iron is set so as to form a bench or temporary support for the levelling instrument;Bench′-war′rant, one issued by a judge rather than a justice or magistrate. [A.S.benc; cog. with Ger. and Dut.bank.]
Bend.
Bend, bend,v.t.to curve or bow: to make crooked: to turn or incline—mostly in passive, to be inclinedto,towards, to be givento: to subdue: to direct to a certain point: to apply closely, to strain, to nerve one's self to: (naut.) to tie, fasten, make fast.—v.i.to be crooked or curved: to incline in any direction: to stoop: to lean: to bow in submission (withto,before,towards):—pa.p.bend′edor bent.—n.a curve or crook: the bent part of anything; (her.) one of the nine ordinaries, consisting of the space contained between two parallel lines crossing the shield diagonally from dexter chief to sinister base. It is said to occupy a fifth part of the shield unless charged, when it occupies a third part—its diminutives are theBendlet,Cotise, andRibbon.—Bend sinister, an occasionally occurring variety of the bend, drawn from sinister chief to dexter base. [Old Eng.bendan.]
Bend, bend,n.in leather, half a butt cut lengthwise.
Beneath, be-nēth′,prep.under, or lower in place: inside of, behind: unworthy the dignity of, unbecoming. [A.S.bi-nathan.]
Benedicite, ben-ē-dis′i-te,n.the canticle beginning'Benediciteomnia opera Domini' ('O all ye works of the Lord'), from the ApocryphalSong of the Three Holy Children—in the Anglican morning service an alternate to theTe Deum: the blessing before a repast.
Benedict, ben′e-dikt,n.a common name for a newly married man, esp. a bachelor who has long held out against marriage, but at last succumbed—fromBenedickin Shakespeare'sMuch Ado about Nothing.—adj.blessed: benign.
Benedictine, ben-e-dik′tin,adj.pertaining to St Benedict or his monastic rule.—n.a Black Friar or monk of the order founded at Monte Cassino by StBenedictof Nursia (480-543), which became famous for its learning: a cordial or liqueur resembling Chartreuse, distilled at Fécamp in Normandy—once distilled by Benedictine monks.
Benediction, ben-e-dik′shun,n.a solemn invocation of the divine blessing on men or things—a priestly benediction is defined by Romanists as a formula of imperative prayer which transmits a certain grace or virtue to the object over which it is pronounced: a brief and popular service in the Romish Church, consisting of certain canticles and antiphons sung in presence of the host, and concluding with the priest making the sign of the cross over the people with the monstrance, and giving in silence the benediction of the most holy sacrament.—adj.Benedict′ory.—n.Benedict′us, the canticle of Zacharias (Luke, i. 68-79), used in the Roman service of matin-lauds, and occurring after the second lesson in Anglican matins.—p.adj.Benedight′(Longfellow), blessed.—Apostolic benediction, that given in 2 Cor. xiii. 14.
Benefaction, ben-e-fak′shun,n.the act of doing good: a good deed done or benefit conferred: a grant or endowment.—n.Benefac′tor, one who gives a benefit to another, esp. one who leaves a legacy to some charitable or religious institution, a patron:—fem.Benefac′tress.—adj.Benefac′tory. [L.benefaction-em.]
Benefice, ben′e-fis,n.any kind of church promotion or dignity, esp. with cure of souls, such as rectories, vicarages, and other parochial cures, as distinguished from bishoprics, deaneries, cathedral preferments, &c.: an ecclesiastical living.—adj.Ben′eficed, possessed of a benefice. [Through Fr. from L.beneficium.]
Beneficence, be-nef′i-sens,n.active goodness: kindness: charity: a beneficent gift.—n.Benefic′ency(obs.).—adjs.Benef′icent;Beneficen′tial.—adv.Benef′icently. [L.beneficentia.]
Beneficial, ben-e-fish′al,adj.useful; advantageous: (law) enjoying the usufruct of property.—adj.Benef′ic, of good influence astrologically: beneficent, kindly.—adv.Benefic′ially.—ns.Benefic′ialness;Benefic′iary, a legal term to denote a person who enjoys, or has the prospect of enjoying, any interest or estate held in trust by others. [L.beneficium.]
Benefit, ben′e-fit,n.a kindness: a favour: any advantage, natural or other: a performance at a theatre, the proceeds of which go to one of the company.—v.t.to do good to.—v.i.to gain advantage (withfrom),—ns.Ben′efit-of-cler′gy, in old English law, the exemption of the persons of ecclesiastics from criminal process before a secular judge, they being responsible only to their ordinary. This privilege, at first limited to those in actual orders, was in 1350 extended to all manner of clerks, and in later practice to all who could read, whether of clergy or laity;Ben′efit-of-in′ventory(Scots law), a legal privilege whereby an heir secured himself against unlimited liability for his ancestor, by giving up within theannus deliberandian inventory of his heritage or real estate, to the extent of which alone was the heir liable.—Benefit societies, associations for mutual benefit chiefly among the labouring classes, better known asFriendly societies. [M. E.benfet, through Fr. from L.benefactum.]
Benet, be-net′,v.t.to catch in a net, to ensnare.
Benet, ben′et,n.an exorcist, the third of the four lesser orders in the Roman Church. [Through Fr. from L.benedict-us, blessed.]
Benevolence, ben-ev′ol-ens,n.disposition to do good: an act of kindness: generosity: a gift of money, esp. for support of the poor: (Eng. hist.) a kind of forced loan or contribution, levied by kings without legal authority, first so called under Edward IV. in 1473.—adj.Benev′olent, charitable, generous, well disposed to.—adv.Benev′olently. [Through Fr. from L.benevolentia.]
Bengali, ben-gaw′lē,adj.of or belonging toBengal.—n.a native of Bengal: the language of Bengal.—n.Bengal′-light, a brilliant signal-light used at sea in a case of shipwreck, and in ordinary pyrotechny for illuminating a district of country—prepared from nitre, sulphur, and the black sulphide of antimony.
Benighted, be-nīt′ed,adj.overtaken by night: involved in darkness, intellectual or moral: ignorant.—v.t.Benight′, to involve in such darkness: to cloud with disappointment.—ns.Benight′ening;Benight′er;Benight′ing;Benight′ment. [Pfx.be-andNight.]
Benign, ben-īn′,adj.favourable, esp. in astrology, as opposed tomalign: gracious: kindly: (med.) of a mild type, as opposed to malignant: salubrious.—n.Benig′nancy, benignant quality.—adj.Benig′nant, kind: gracious: beneficial.—adv.Benig′nantly.—n.Benig′nity, goodness of disposition: kindness: graciousness: favourable circumstances—of climate, weather, disease, planets.—adv.Benign′ly. [O. Fr.benigne—L.benignus, forbenigenus;bene, well,genus, born.]
Benison, ben′izn,n.benediction, blessing, esp. blessing of God. [O. Fr.beneiçun—L.benediction-em.]
Benitier, bā-nē′tiā,n.the vase or vessel for holy water in R.C. churches, known in England as the holy-water font, vat, pot, stone, stock, or stoup. [Fr.—Low L.benedictarium—L.benedictus.]
Benjamin, ben′jä-min,n.a kind of overcoat formerly worn by men. [Suggested possibly by 'Joseph's coat.' The Gipsybéngari, 'waistcoat,' has been proposed as an etymon.]
Benjamin, ben′jä-min,n.gum benjamin, an essence made from benzoin.—n.Ben′jamin-tree, a North American aromatic shrub, with stimulant tonic bark and berries: the tree which yields benzoin—Styrax Benzoin. [A corr. ofBenzoin.]
Bennet, ben′et,n.the herb Bennet or common avens (Geum urbanum), a yellow-flowered wayside plant throughout Europe. [Through Fr. from L. 'herbabenedicta,' the flower being a protective against the devil.]
Bennet, ben′et,n.the same asBent, indeed an earlier form.
Bent, bent,pa.t.andpa.p.ofBend.
Bent, bent,n.leaning or bias: tendency: intention: natural inclination of the mind towards anything: the condition of being bent, curved form: (rare) slope or declivity: (Shak.) a cast, as of the eye: the extent to which a bow may be bent—degree of tension, capacity of endurance, as in the phrase 'to the top of one's bent' = to the full measure of one's inclination. [SeeBend.]
Bent, bent,n.any stiff or wiry grass: the old dried stalks of grasses: a special genus (Agrostis) containing about sixty species of grasses, all slender and delicate in appearance, and some useful as pasture-grasses and for hay: a place covered with such, a heath: a hillside.—OftenBent′-grass.—Ben′netis a variant, a name applied to the wild barley-grass.—adj.Bent′y.—To take to the bent(Scot.), to fly to the moors, to escape from some danger by flight. [A.S.beonet, found in place-names, asBeonetléah, Bentley; the history is obscure, but the word is doubtless Teut.; cf. Ger.binse.]
Benthamism, ben′tham-izm,n.a name applied to the social and political doctrines of JeremyBentham(1748-1832), whose leading principle is the doctrine of utility, that happiness is identical with pleasure, summed up in Priestley's famous phrase, 'the greatest happiness of the greatest number.'
Benumb, be-num′,v.t.to make insensible or powerless: to stupefy (now chiefly ofcold): to deaden the feelings: to paralyse generally.—p.adj.Benumbed′.—ns.Benumbed′ness,Benumb′ment. [Pfx.be-andNumb.]
Benzene, ben′zēn,n.a compound of carbon and hydrogen, discovered by Faraday in 1825, in a tarry liquid resulting from the distillation of oil. It is found amongst the products of the destructive distillation of a great many organic bodies, but the most abundant source is coal-tar. It must not be confounded withbenzineorbenzoyl, which names have at different times been used for benzene.—Ben′zineis the name given to a distillate from American petroleum, which is much used as a substitute for turpentine, and for dissolving oils and fats;Ben′zoylis the commercial name applied to a mixture of substances, including benzene and its homologues.—Ben′zolis synonymous with benzene, whileBen′zolineis a name applied to benzine and impure benzene indiscriminately.
Benzoin, ben′zō-in, or-zoin,n.gum benjamin, the aromatic and resinous juice of theStyrax Benzoinof Java and Sumatra. It is used in perfumery, in pastilles, and for incense, and its compound tincture yields Friar's Balsam or Jesuit's Drops, and is used in making court-plaster. [In the 16th century,Benjoin. Most prob. through It. from Ar.lubān jāwī, frankincense of Java, Sumatra, &c.]
Bepaint, be-pānt′,v.t.to paint over: to colour.
Bepat, be-pat′,v.t.to pat frequently, to beat.
Bepatched, be-patcht′,p.adj.mended with patches: wearing patches on the face by way of adornment.
Bepearl, be-pėrl′,v.t.to cover over with pearls.
Bepelt, be-pėlt′,v.t.to pelt vigorously.
Bepepper, be-pep′ėr,v.t.to pelt with a rain of shot or of blows.
Bepester, be-pest′ėr,v.t.to vex or pester greatly.
Bepity, be-pit′i,v.t.to pity greatly.
Beplumed, be-plōōmd′,p.adj.adorned with feathers.
Bepommel, be-pom′el,v.t.to pommel soundly.
Bepowder, be-pow′dėr,v.t.to powder over.
Bepraise, be-prāz′,v.t.to praise extravagantly.
Beprose, be-prōz′,v.t.to reduce to prose: to discuss in prose, and tediously.
Bepuff, be-puf′,v.t.to puff out: to praise beyond measure.
Bequeath, be-kwēth′,v.t.to leave personal property by will to another: to transmit to posterity, to leave behind: to commit or entrust to any one.—adj.Bequeath′able.—ns.Bequeath′al,Bequeath′ment. [A.S.becweðan; pfx.be-,andcweðan, to say. SeeQuoth.]
Bequest, be-kwest′,n.act of bequeathing: that which is bequeathed, a legacy. [M. E.bi-queste—A.S.bi'-cwiss;bi'-, a form of pfx.be-,qithan, to say. SeeQuoth.]
Berate, be-rāt′,v.t.(U.S.) to scold or chide vigorously.
Berber, bėr′bėr,n.andadj.a member of one of the Hamitic tribes inhabiting the mountainous regions of Barbary and the northern portions of the Great Desert, originally occupying the whole southern coast of the Mediterranean: the language spoken by the Berbers. [Derived by Barth either from the name of their supposed ancestor,Ber, which we recognise in the L. A-fer, an African; or from the Gr. and L. termBarbari.]
Bere, another spelling ofBear, barley (q.v.).
Berean, bē-rē′an,n.one of an extinct Scottish sect of the 18th century, named from the people ofBerea(Acts, xvii. 11, who derived all knowledge of God from the Bible, but differed little from ordinary Calvinists.
Bereave, be-rēv′,v.t.to rob a person of anything valued: to leave destitute:—pa.t.andpa.p.bereaved′—the latter alsoBereft′.—adj.Bereaved′, robbed by death of some dear relative or friend.—n.Bereave′ment, the fact or state of being so bereaved. [A.S.beréafian, to plunder. SeeReave.]
Beret,Berret, bėr′et,n.a flat woollen cap worn by the Basques. [Fr.]
Berg, berg,n.a mass or mountain of ice.—ns.Berg′fall, the fall of a mountain rock;Berg′field, an expanse of ice covered with bergs. [SeeIceberg.]
Bergamask, bėr′ga-mask,adj.of or pertaining toBergamo, whose natives are clownish in manners and dialect.—n.a rustic dance of theirs.
Bergamot, bėr′ga-mot,n.a kind of citron whose aromatic rind yields the well-known oil of Bergamot, used in making pomades, fragrant essences, eau de Cologne, liqueurs, &c.: the essence so extracted. [From the town ofBergamo.]
Bergamot, bėr′ga-mot,n.a group of varieties of pear of fine flavour. [Fr.—It.—Turk.begarmūdi.]
Bergmehl, bėrg′māl,n.a deposit of diatomaceous white earth or powder, that used in Norway to be mixed with flour and used as food. [Ger. 'mountain-flour.']
Beriberi, ber′i-ber-i,n.an Eastern disease marked by anæmia, paralysis, and dropsical symptoms. [Singh.]
Berkeleianism, berk′lē-an-izm,n.the philosophy of BishopBerkeley(1685-1753), who maintained that the world we see and touch is not an abstract independent substance, of which conscious mind may be an effect, but is the very world which is presented to our senses, and which depends for its actuality on being perceived.—adj.andn.Berkelei′an.
Berlin, bėr′lin,n.an old-fashioned four-wheeled covered carriage, with a seat behind covered with a hood—alsoBer′line.—Berlin blue, Prussian blue;Berlin wool, a fine dyed wool for worsted-work, knitting, &c.
Berm, bėrm,n.a ledge: esp. a fortification. [Fr.berme; Ger.berme.]
Bernardine, bėr′nard-in,adj.Cistercian. [From StBernardof Clairvaux, founder of the order.]
Berob, be-rob′,v.t.(Spens.) to rob or plunder.
Berry, ber′i,n.a popular term for any small succulent fruit, but restricted in botanical language to simple fruits with pericarp succulent throughout, whether developed from superior (grape, potato, bitternut, belladonna, bryony, asparagus, tomato), or more commonly inferior ovary (gooseberry, currant, barberry, bilberry, &c.)—thus, strictly, the strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, are not berries.—v.i.to come into berry, to swell.—adj.Ber′ried, bearing berries. [A.S.berie.]
Bersaglieri, bār-sal-yā′rē,n.pl.the riflemen or sharpshooters of the Italian army, first organised in the Sardinian army in 1836. [It.; pl. ofbersagliere,bersaglio, a mark.]
Berserk,-er, bėr′serk, -ėr,n.a Norse warrior whom the sight of the field of battle would fill with a frenzied and resistless fury—'the berserker rage.' [Ice.berserkr; Vigfusson explains the word as 'bear-sark,' and most probably a reference to the uncanny Werewolf superstition is involved.]
Berth, bėrth,n.a ship's station at anchor; a room or sleeping-place in a ship, a sleeping-carriage, &c.: any allotted or assigned place: a situation or place of employment, usually a comfortable one—even without such a qualifying adjective as 'a snug berth.'—v.t.to moor a ship: to furnish with a berth.—To give a wide berth to, to keep well away from generally. [A doublet ofBirth; fromBear.]
Beryl, bėr′il,n.a precious stone resembling the emerald, but colourless, yellowish, greenish yellow or blue—its finer varieties are called precious beryl, and sometimes aquamarine. It has important uses as a magic crystal in which the future becomes visible.—adj.beryl-like in colour. [O. Fr.beryl—L.beryllus—Gr.bēryllos.]
Besaint, be-sānt′,v.t.to make a saint of.—pa.p.Besaint′ed, canonised: haunted with saints.
Bescatter, be-skat′ėr,v.t.to scatter over.
Bescrawl, be-skrawl′,v.t.to scrawl or scribble over.
Bescreen, be-skrēn′,v.t.to screen: to overshadow.
Bescribble, be-skrib′l,v.t.to write in a scribbling hand: to scribble about or upon.
Beseech, be-sēch′,v.t.to entreat, to implore (as a person,fora thing, orto doa thing): to ask or pray earnestly: to solicit—(Spens.)Beseeke′:—pa.t.andpa.p.besought′.—ns.Beseech′er;Beseech′ing.—adv.Beseech′ingly.—ns.Beseech′ingness;Beseech′ment. [Pfx.be-, and M. E.sechen, toSeek.]
Beseem, be-sēm′,v.t.to be seemly or fit for: to become: to be fit for or worthy of: (Spens.) to become or appear.—ns.Beseem′ing,Beseem′ingness—adv.Beseem′ingly.
Beseen, be-sēn′,pa.p.of good appearance, comely: well furnished (withwell).—Besee′is quite obsolete.
Beset, be-set′,v.t.to surround or set round with anything (now only inpa.p.): to surround with hostile intentions, to besiege: to occupy so as to allow none to go out or in: to assail, perplex, endanger, as by temptations, obstacles, &c.:—pr.p.beset′ting;pa.t.andpa.p.beset′.—ns.Beset′ment;Beset′ter.—p.adj.Beset′ting, that besets, as in 'besetting sin.'
Beshadow, be-shad′ō,v.t.to cast a shadow over.
Beshame, be-shām′,v.t.to put to shame.
Beshine, be-shīn′,v.i.to light up.—p.adj.Beshone′.
Beshrew, be-shrōō′,v.t.to invoke evil upon, to curse—now only in such mild imprecations as 'beshrew me,' or 'thee'—prob. not imperative but elliptical, like '(I) thank you.' [Pfx.be-, andShrew.]
Beside, be-sīd′,prep.andadv.by the side of, near: over and above (in this sense, now usuallyBesides′), distinct from: apart from, not falling within, as of a question, resolution, &c.—Beside the mark, away from the mark aimed at, irrelevant.—To be beside one's self, to be out of one's senses. [M. E.bi siden—A.S.be si'dan, by the side (dat.).]
Besides, be-sīdz′,prep.andadv.in addition, otherwise, aside: over and above, in addition to, away from. [Beside, with thesof theadv.gen.]
Besiege, be-sēj′,v.t.to lay siege to: to beset with armed forces: to throng round.—n.Besieg′er.—adv.Besieg′ingly(rare), urgently.
Besigh, be-sī′,v.t.to sigh over.
Besing, be-sing′,v.t.to celebrate in song.—p.adj.Besung′.
Besit, be-sit′,v.t.(obs.) to besiege: to sit well on, as clothes, to become.—p.adj.Besit′ting(Spens.), becoming.
Beslave, be-slāv′,v.t.to make a slave of: to call slave.
Beslaver, be-slāv′ėr,v.t.to slaver or slobber upon: to cover with fulsome flattery.
Beslobber, be-slob′ėr,v.t.to besmear with the spittle running from one's mouth: to cover with drivelling kisses: to flatter fulsomely.—v.t.Beslub′ber, to bedaub or besmear.
Besmear, be-smēr′,v.t.to smear over: to bedaub: to pollute.
Besmirch, be-smirch′,v.t.to soil, as with smoke or soot: to sully.—v.t.Besmutch′, to besmirch.
Besmut, be-smut′,v.t.to blacken with soot.—p.adj.Besmut′ted.
Besogno,Besonio. Same asBezonian.
Besom, bē′zum,n.an implement for sweeping, a broom: any cleansing or purifying agent: (Scot.) a term of reproach for a woman.—ns.Bē′som-head, a blockhead;Bē′som-rid′er, a witch.—To jump the besom(seeBroom). [A.S.besema,besma; a common Teut. word; Ger.besen, Dut.bezem.]
Besort, be-sort′,v.t.(obs.,Shak.) to match with, befit, become.—n.suitable company.
Besot, be-sot′,v.t.to make sottish, dull, or stupid: to make a sot of: to cause to dote on: to infatuate (with):—pr.p.besot′ting;pa.p.besot′ted.—p.adj.Besot′ted, infatuated.—adv.Besot′tedly.—n.Besot′tedness.
Besought, be-sawt′,pa.t.andpa.p.ofBeseech.
Besouled, be-sōld′,adj.endowed with a soul.
Bespangle, be-spang′gl,v.t.to adorn with spangles, or with anything sparkling or shining.
Bespate, be-spāt′,p.adj.spit upon.
Bespatter, be-spat′ėr,v.t.to spatter or sprinkle with dirt or anything moist: to defame.
Bespeak, be-spēk′,v.t.to speak for or engage beforehand: to stipulate or ask for: to betoken.—v.i.(obs.) to speak:—pa.t.bespōke′;pa.p.bespōke′andbespōk′en.—n.an actor's benefit, so called because the actor's friends and patrons bespeak or choose the piece to be performed that night.
Bespeckle, be-spek′l,v.t.to mark with speckles or spots.
Bespectacled, be-spek′ta-kld,pa.p.having spectacles on.
Bespeed, be-spēd′,v.t.to help on.—p.adj.Besped′.
Bespice, be-spīs′,v.t.(Shak.) to season with spice: to drug or poison.
Bespoke, be-spōk′,Bespoken,be-spōk′n,pa.p.ofBespeak, ordered, as boots, clothes, &c.
Bespot, be-spot′,v.t.to cover with spots.—p.adj.Bespot′ted.—n.Bespot′tedness.
Bespout, be-spowt′,v.t.to spout over: to declaim pompously.
Bespread, be-spred′,v.t.to spread over: to cover:—pr.p.bespread′ing;pa.t.andpa.p.bespread′.
Besprent, be-sprent′,pa.p.sprinkled over: scattered. [A.S.besprengan. SeeSprinkle.]
Besprinkle, be-spring′kl,v.t.to sprinkle over.
Bessemer, bes′ėm-ėr,adj.derived from the name of the inventor, Sir H.Bessemer, applied to steel for rails, tires, ship-plates, &c., prepared by the Bessemer process.
Best, best,adj.(serves assuperl.ofGood) good in the highest degree: first: highest: most excellent.—n.one's utmost endeavour: the highest perfection.—adv.(superl.ofWell) in the highest degree: in the best manner.—v.t.(coll.) to get the better of.—Best manandBest maid, the groomsman and bridesmaid at a wedding.—At the best, orAt best, in the best possible way, at most after every allowance is made;For the best, with the best intentions;I were best= it were bestfor me.—To have the best of it, to gain the advantage in a contest;To make the best of one's way, to go by the best possible road;To put one's best foot foremost, to do the best, or to make the best show, one can. [A.S.betst,betest. SeeBetter.]
Bestain, be-stān′,v.t.to stain all over.
Bestead, be-sted′,v.t.to help, relieve: to be of use to, to avail.—v.i.to profit, be advantageous.
Bestead,Bested, be-sted′,p.adj.set about (with): beset (withby, of foes;with, of dangers, &c.): situated—usually withill,hard, &c.
Bestial, best′i-al,adj.like a beast: rude: brutally sensual.—n.(Scot.) a collective name for cattle.—v.t.Best′ialise, to make like a beast.—ns.Best′ialism, irrationality;Bestial′ity, beastliness: disgusting vice. [L.bestialis. SeeBeast.]
Bestiary, best′i-ar-i,n.the name given to a class of books of great popularity in the Middle Ages, describing all the animals of creation, real or fabled, generally illustrated by drawings, and allegorised for edification. [Low L.bestiarium, a menagerie.]
Bestick, be-stik′,v.t.to stick over, as with sharp points.
Bestill, be-stil′,v.t.to make quiet, to hush.
Bestir, be-stėr′,v.t.to put into lively action: arouse into activity: (refl.) to rouse one's self—p.adj.Bestir′ring.
Bestorm, be-storm′,v.t.to assail with storms or tumult.
Bestow, be-stō′,v.t.to stow, place, or put by: to give or confer: to accommodate with quarters: to apply (withonandupon): (refl.,Shak.) to acquit one's self.—ns.Bestow′al, act of bestowing: disposal;Bestow′er;Bestow′ment.
Bestraddle, be-strad′dl,v.t.to bestride.
Bestraught, be-strawt′,adj.(obs.) distraught: distracted: mad. [Formed with pfx.be-, on the analogy ofdistraught—L.dis-tractus.]
Bestreak, be-strēk′,v.t.to overspread with streaks.
Bestrew, be-strōō′,v.t.to strew or scatter loosely over:—pa.p.bestrewed′,bestrōwn′,bestrewn′(with).
Bestride, be-strīd′,v.t.to stride over: to sit or stand across: to defend, protect, from the sense of standing over a fallen man to defend him:—pa.t.bestrid′,bestrōde′;pa.p.bestrid′,bestrid′den.
Bestuck, be-stuk′,pa.t.andpa.p.ofBestick, to stick about, adorn: to transfix.
Bestud, be-stud′,v.t.to adorn as with studs, as the sky with stars.
Bet, bet,n.a wager: something staked to be lost or won on the result of a doubtful issue, as a horse-race, or the like.—v.t.andv.i.to lay or stake, as a bet:—pr.p.bet′ting;pa.t.andpa.p.bet orbet′ted.—ns.Bet′ter, one who bets—alsoBet′tor;Bet′ting, act of betting or proposing a wager.—An even bet, an equal chance.—You bet, in American slang, certainly. [Prob. shortened from the nounAbet.]
Betake, be-tāk′,v.t.to take one's self to, to go (withself): to apply or have recourse:—pa.t.betook′;pa.p.betāk′en.
Beteem, be-tēm′,v.t.(Shak.) to grant, to suffer, to allow. [Most prob. from pfx.be-, andTeem.]
Betel, bē′tl,n.the betel-nut, or nut of the areca palm, with lime and the leaves of the Betel-Pepper, chewed by the Malays as a stimulant. [Through Port. from Malayvettila.]
Bethankit, be-thank′it, Scotch for 'God be thanked.'
Bethel, beth′el,n.a hallowed spot, a name applied by some Methodists to their places of worship: an old ship fitted up in a port as a place of worship for sailors. [Heb.Bēth-ēl, house of God.]
Bethink, be-thingk′,v.t.to think on or call to mind: to recollect (generally followed by a reflective pronoun andof): to propose to one's self.—v.i.to consider:—pa.t.andpa.p.bethought(be-thawt′). [A.S.bithencan; cf. Ger.bedenken. SeeThink.]