Defn: To suit or be suitable to; to be congruous with; to befit; to accord with, in character or circumstances; to be worthy of, or proper for; to cause to appear well; — said of persons and things. It becomes me so to speak of so excellent a poet. Dryden. I have known persons so anxious to have their dress become them, as to convert it, at length, into their proper self, and thus actually to become the dress. Coleridge.
BECOMEDBe*com"ed, a.
Defn: Proper; decorous. [Obs.]And gave him what becomed love I might. Shak.
BECOMINGBe*com"ing, a.
Defn: Appropriate or fit; congruous; suitable; graceful; befitting.A low and becoming tone. Thackeray.
Note: Formerly sometimes followed by of.Such discourses as are becoming of them. Dryden.
Syn.— Seemly; comely; decorous; decent; proper.
BECOMINGBe*com"ing, n.
Defn: That which is becoming or appropriate. [Obs.]
BECOMINGLYBe*com"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a becoming manner.
BECOMINGNESSBe*com"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being becoming, appropriate, or fit; congruity;fitness.The becomingness of human nature. Grew.
BECQUEREL RAYSBecque`rel" rays". (Physics)
Defn: Radiations first observed by the French physicist Henri Becquerel, in working with uranium and its compounds. They consist of a mixture of alpha, beta, and gamma rays.
BECRIPPLEBe*crip"ple, v. t.
Defn: To make a cripple of; to cripple; to lame. [R.] Dr. H. More.
BECUIBA; BECUIBA NUTBe*cui"ba, n., Be*cui"ba nut`. [Native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: The nut of the Brazilian tree Myristica Bicuhyba, which yields a medicinal balsam used for rheumatism.
BECUNABe*cu"na, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the Mediterranean (Sphyræna spet). See Barracuda.
BECURLBe*curl", v. t.
Defn: To curl; to adorn with curls.
BED Bed, n. Etym: [AS. bed, bedd; akin to OS. bed, D. bed, bedde, Icel. be, Dan. bed, Sw. bädd, Goth. badi, OHG. betti, G. bett, bette, bed, beet a plat of ground; all of uncertain origin.]
1. An article of furniture to sleep or take rest in or on; a couch. Specifically: A sack or mattress, filled with some soft material, in distinction from the bedstead on which it is placed (as, a feather bed), or this with the bedclothes added. In a general sense, any thing or place used for sleeping or reclining on or in, as a quantity of hay, straw, leaves, or twigs. And made for him [a horse] a leafy bed. Byron. I wash, wring, brew, bake, . . . make the beds. Shak. In bed he slept not for my urging it. Shak.
2. (Used as the symbol of matrimony) Marriage. George, the eldest son of his second bed. Clarendon.
3. A plat or level piece of ground in a garden, usually a little raised above the adjoining ground. "Beds of hyacinth and roses." Milton.
4. A mass or heap of anything arranged like a bed; as, a bed of ashes or coals.
5. The bottom of a watercourse, or of any body of water; as, the bed of a river. So sinks the daystar in the ocean bed. Milton.
6. (Geol.)
Defn: A layer or seam, or a horizontal stratum between layers; as, a bed of coal, iron, etc.
7. (Gun.)
Defn: See Gun carriage, and Mortar bed.
8. (Masonry) (a) The horizontal surface of a building stone; as, the upper and lower beds. (b) A course of stone or brick in a wall. (c) The place or material in which a block or brick is laid. (d) The lower surface of a brick, slate, or tile. Knight.
9. (Mech.)
Defn: The foundation or the more solid and fixed part or framing of a machine; or a part on which something is laid or supported; as, the bed of an engine.
10. The superficial earthwork, or ballast, of a railroad.
11. (Printing)
Defn: The flat part of the press, on which the form is laid.
Note: Bed is much used adjectively or in combination; as, bed key or bedkey; bed wrench or bedwrench; bedchamber; bedmaker, etc. Bed of justice (French Hist.), the throne (F. lit bed) occupied by the king when sitting in one of his parliaments (judicial courts); hence, a session of a refractory parliament, at which the king was present for the purpose of causing his decrees to be registered. — To be brought to bed, to be delivered of a child; — often followed by of; as, to be brought to bed of a son. — To make a bed, to prepare a bed; to arrange or put in order a bed and its bedding. — From bed and board (Law), a phrase applied to a separation by partial divorce of man and wife, without dissolving the bonds of matrimony. If such a divorce (now commonly called a judicial separation) be granted at the instance of the wife, she may have alimony.
BEDBed, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedded; p. pr. & vb. n. Bedding.]
1. To place in a bed. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. To make partaker of one's bed; to cohabit with. I'll to the Tuscan wars, and never bed her. Shak.
3. To furnish with a bed or bedding.
4. To plant or arrange in beds; to set, or cover, as in a bed of soft earth; as, to bed the roots of a plant in mold.
5. To lay or put in any hollow place, or place of rest and security, surrounded or inclosed; to embed; to furnish with or place upon a bed or foundation; as, to bed a stone; it was bedded on a rock. Among all chains or clusters of mountains where large bodies of still water are bedded. Wordsworth.
6. (Masonry)
Defn: To dress or prepare the surface of stone) so as to serve as a bed.
7. To lay flat; to lay in order; to place in a horizontal or recumbent position. "Bedded hair." Shak.
BEDBed, v. i.
Defn: To go to bed; to cohabit.If he be married, and bed with his wife. Wiseman.
BEDABBLEBe*dab*ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedabbled (; p. pr. & vb. n.Bedabbling (.]
Defn: To dabble; to sprinkle or wet. Shak.
BEDAFFBe*daff", v. t.
Defn: To make a daff or fool of. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEDAGATBed"a*gat, n.
Defn: The sacred books of the Buddhists in Burmah. Malcom.
BEDAGGLEBe*dag"gle, v. t.
Defn: To daggle.
BEDASHBe*dash", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedashed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedashing.]
Defn: To wet by dashing or throwing water or other liquid upon; to bespatter. "Trees bedashed with rain." Shak.
BEDAUBBe*daub", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedaubed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedaubing.]
Defn: To daub over; to besmear or soil with anything thick and dirty.Bedaub foul designs with a fair varnish. Barrow.
BEDAZZLE Be*daz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedazzled (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedazzling (
Defn: To dazzle or make dim by a strong light. "Bedazzled with the sun." Shak.
BEDBUGBed"bug`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wingless, bloodsucking, hemipterous insect (CimexLectularius), sometimes infesting houses and especially beds. SeeIllustration in Appendix.
BEDCHAIRBed"chair`, n.
Defn: A chair with adjustable back, for the sick, to support them while sitting up in bed.
BEDCHAMBERBed"cham`ber, n.
Defn: A chamber for a bed; an apartment form sleeping in. Shak. Lords of the bedchamber, eight officers of the royal household, all of noble families, who wait in turn a week each. [Eng.] — Ladies of the bedchamber, eight ladies, all titled, holding a similar official position in the royal household, during the reign of a queen. [Eng.]
BEDCLOTHESBed"clothes`, n. pl.
Defn: Blankets, sheets, coverlets, etc., for a bed. Shak.
BEDCORDBed"cord`, n.
Defn: A cord or rope interwoven in a bedstead so as to support the bed.
BEDDEDBed"ded, a.
Defn: Provided with a bed; as, double-bedded room; placed or arranged in a bed or beds.
BEDDINGBed"ding, n. Etym: [AS. bedding, beding. See Bed.]
1. A bed and its furniture; the materials of a bed, whether for man or beast; bedclothes; litter.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: The state or position of beds and layers.
BEDEBede, v. t. Etym: [See Bid, v. t.]
Defn: To pray; also, to offer; to proffer. [Obs.] R. of Gloucester.Chaucer.
BEDEBede, n. (Mining)
Defn: A kind of pickax.
BEDECKBe*deck", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedecked (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedecking.]
Defn: To deck, ornament, or adorn; to grace.Bedecked with boughs, flowers, and garlands. Pennant.
BEDEGUAR; BEDEGAR Bed"e*guar, Bed"e*gar, n. Etym: [F., fr. Per. bad-award, or bad- awardag, prop., a kind of white thorn or thistle.]
Defn: A gall produced on rosebushes, esp. on the sweetbrier or eglantine, by a puncture from the ovipositor of a gallfly (Rhodites rosæ). It was once supposed to have medicinal properties.
BEDEHOUSEBede"house`
Defn: ,n.Same as Beadhouse.
BEDEL; BEDELLBe"del, Be"dell
Defn: ,n.Same as Beadle.
BEDELRYBe"del*ry, n.
Defn: Beadleship. [Obs.] Blount.
BEDENBed"en, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Abyssinian or Arabian ibex (Capra Nubiana). It is probably the wild goat of the Bible.
BEDESMANBedes"man, n.
Defn: Same as Beadsman. [Obs.]
BEDEVIL Be*dev"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedevilled (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedeviling or Bedevilling.]
1. To throw into utter disorder and confusion, as if by the agency of evil spirits; to bring under diabolical influence; to torment. Bedeviled and used worse than St. Bartholomew. Sterne.
2. To spoil; to corrupt. Wright.
BEDEVILMENTBe*dev"il*ment, n.
Defn: The state of being bedeviled; bewildering confusion; vexatious trouble. [Colloq.]
BEDEWBe*dew", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedewed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedewing.]
Defn: To moisten with dew, or as with dew. "Falling tears his face bedew." Dryden.
BEDEWERBe*dew"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, bedews.
BEDEWYBe*dew"y, a.
Defn: Moist with dew; dewy. [Obs.]Night with her bedewy wings. A. Brewer.
BEDFELLOWBed"fel`low, n.
Defn: One who lies with another in the same bed; a person who shares one's couch.
BEDFERE; BEDPHEREBed"fere` Bed"phere`, n. Etym: [Bed + AS. fera a companion.]
Defn: A bedfellow. [Obs.] Chapman.
BEDGOWNBed"gown`, n.
Defn: A nightgown.
BEDIGHTBe*dight", v. t. [p. p. Bedight, Bedighted.]
Defn: To bedeck; to array or equip; to adorn. [Archaic] Milton.
BEDIMBe*dim", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedimmed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedimming.]
Defn: To make dim; to obscure or darken. Shak.
BEDIZENBe*diz"en, v. t.
Defn: To dress or adorn tawdrily or with false taste. Remnants of tapestried hangings, . . . and shreds of pictures with which he had bedizened his tatters. Sir W. Scott.
BEDIZENMENTBe*diz"en*ment, n.
Defn: That which bedizens; the act of dressing, or the state of being dressed, tawdrily.
BEDKEYBed"key`, n.
Defn: An instrument for tightening the parts of a bedstead.
BEDLAMBed"lam, n. Etym: [See Bethlehem.]
1. A place appropriated to the confinement and care of the insane; a madhouse. Abp. Tillotson.
2. An insane person; a lunatic; a madman. [Obs.] Let's get the bedlam to lead him. Shak.
3. Any place where uproar and confusion prevail.
BEDLAMBed"lam, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or fit for, a madhouse. "The bedlam, brainsick duchess." Shak.
BEDLAMITEBed"lam*ite, n.
Defn: An inhabitant of a madhouse; a madman. "Raving bedlamites."Beattie.
BEDMAKERBed"mak`er, n.
Defn: One who makes beds.
BED-MOLDING; BED-MOULDINGBed"-mold`ing Bed"-mould`ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The molding of a cornice immediately below the corona. Oxf.Gloss.
BEDOTEBe*dote", v. t.
Defn: To cause to dote; to deceive. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEDOUIN Bed"ou*in, n. Etym: [F. bédouin, OF. béduin, fr. Ar. bedawi rural, living in the desert, fr. badw desert, fr. bada to live in the desert, to lead a nomadic life.]
Defn: One of the nomadic Arabs who live in tents, and are scattered over Arabia, Syria, and northern Africa, esp. in the deserts. — Bed"ou*in*ism (, n.
BEDOUINBed"ou*in, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the Bedouins; nomad.
BEDPANBed"pan`, n.
1. A pan for warming beds. Nares.
2. A shallow chamber vessel, so constructed that it can be used by a sick person in bed.
BEDPHEREBed"phere`, n.
Defn: See Bedfere. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BEDPIECE; BEDPLATEBed"piece`, Bed"plate`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: The foundation framing or piece, by which the other parts are supported and held in place; the bed; — called also baseplate and soleplate.
BEDPOSTBed"post`, n.
1. One of the four standards that support a bedstead or the canopy over a bedstead.
2. Anciently, a post or pin on each side of the bed to keep the clothes from falling off. See Bedstaff. Brewer.
BEDQUILTBed"quilt`, n.
Defn: A quilt for a bed; a coverlet.
BEDRABBLEBe*drab"ble, v. t.
Defn: To befoul with rain and mud; to drabble.
BEDRAGGLEBe*drag"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedraggled (; p. pr. & vb. n.Bedraggling (.]
Defn: To draggle; to soil, as garments which, in walking, are suffered to drag in dust, mud, etc. Swift.
BEDRENCHBe*drench", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedrenched (p. pr. & vb. n.Bedrenching.]
Defn: To drench; to saturate with moisture; to soak. Shak.
BEDRIBBLEBe*drib"ble, v. t.
Defn: To dribble upon.
BEDRID; BEDRIDDENBed"rid`, Bed"rid`den, a. Etym: [OE. bedrede, AS. bedreda, bedrida;from bed, bedd, a bed or couch + ridda a rider; cf. OHG. pettiriso,G. bettrise. See Bed, n., and Ride, v. i. ]
Defn: Confined to the bed by sickness or infirmity. "Her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father." Shak. "The estate of a bedridden old gentleman." Macaulay.
BEDRIGHT; BEDRITEBed"right` Bed"rite`, n. Etym: [Bed + right, rite.]
Defn: The duty or privilege of the marriage bed. Shak.
BEDRIZZLEBe*driz"zle, v. t.
Defn: To drizzle upon.
BED ROCKBed" rock". (Mining)
Defn: The solid rock underlying superficial formations. Also Fig.
BEDROOMBed"room, n.
1. A room or apartment intended or used for a bed; a lodging room.
2. Room in a bed.
Note: [In this sense preferably bed room.]Then by your side no bed room me deny. Shak.
BEDROPBe*drop", v. t.
Defn: To sprinkle, as with drops.The yellow carp, in scales bedropped with gold. Pope.
BEDRUGBe*drug", v. t.
Defn: To drug abundantly or excessively.
BED SCREWBed" screw`.
1. (Naut.) A form of jack screw for lifting large bodies, and assisting in launching.
2. A long screw formerly used to fasten a bedpost to one of the adjacent side pieces.
BEDSIDEBed"side`, n.
Defn: The side of a bed.
BEDSITEBed"site`, n.
Defn: A recess in a room for a bed. Of the three bedrooms, two have fireplaces, and all are of fair size, with windows and bedsite well placed. Quart. Rev.
BEDSOREBed"sore`, n. (Med.)
Defn: A sore on the back or hips caused by lying for a long time in bed.
BEDSPREADBed"spread`, n.
Defn: A bedquilt; a counterpane; a coverlet. [U. S.]
BEDSTAFFBed"staff`, n.; pl. Bedstaves (.
Defn: "A wooden pin stuck anciently on the sides of the bedstead, tohold the clothes from slipping on either side." Johnson.Hostess, accommodate us with a bedstaff. B. Jonson.Say there is no virtue in cudgels and bedstaves. Brome.
BEDSTEADBed"stead, n. Etym: [Bed + stead a frame.]
Defn: A framework for supporting a bed.
BED STEPSBed" steps`.
Defn: Steps for mounting a bed of unusual height.
BEDSTOCKBed"stock, n.
Defn: The front or the back part of the frame of a bedstead. [Obs. orDial. Eng.]
BEDSTRAWBed"straw`, n.
1. Straw put into a bed. Bacon.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of slender herbs, usually with square stems, whorled leaves, and small white flowers. Our Lady's bedstraw, which has yellow flowers, is Galium verum. — White bedstraw is G. mollugo.
BEDSWERVERBed"swerv`er, n.
Defn: One who swerves from and is unfaithful to the marriage vow.[Poetic] Shak.
BEDTICKBed"tick`, n.
Defn: A tick or bag made of cloth, used for inclosing the materials of a bed.
BEDTIMEBed"time`, n.
Defn: The time to go to bed. Shak.
BEDUCKBe*duck", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beducked (.]
Defn: To duck; to put the head under water; to immerse. "Deep himself beducked." Spenser.
BEDUINBed"uin, n.
Defn: See Bedouin.
BEDUNGBe*dung", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedunged.]
Defn: To cover with dung, as for manuring; to bedaub or defile, literally or figuratively. Bp. Hall.
BEDUSTBe*dust", v. t.
Defn: To sprinkle, soil, or cover with dust. Sherwood.
BEDWARDBed"ward, adv.
Defn: Towards bed.
BEDWARFBe*dwarf", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedwarfed.]
Defn: To make a dwarf of; to stunt or hinder the growth of; to dwarf.Donne.
BEDYEBe*dye", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bedyeing.]
Defn: To dye or stain.Briton fields with Sarazin blood bedyed. Spenser.
BEEBee,
Defn: p. p. of Be; — used for been. [Obs.] Spenser.
BEE Bee, n. Etym: [AS. beó; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b, Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. sq. root97.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the order Hymenoptera, and family Apidæ (the honeybees), or family Andrenidæ (the solitary bees.) See Honeybee.
Note: There are many genera and species. The common honeybee (Apis mellifica) lives in swarms, each of which has its own queen, its males or drones, and its very numerous workers, which are barren females. Besides the A. mellifica there are other species and varieties of honeybees, as the A. ligustica of Spain and Italy; the A. Indica of India; the A. fasciata of Egypt. The bumblebee is a species of Bombus. The tropical honeybees belong mostly to Melipoma and Trigona.
2. A neighborly gathering of people who engage in united labor for the benefit of an individual or family; as, a quilting bee; a husking bee; a raising bee. [U. S.] The cellar . . . was dug by a bee in a single day. S. G. Goodrich.
3. pl. Etym: [Prob. fr. AS. beáh ring, fr. b to bend. See 1st Bow.] (Naut.)
Defn: Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through; — called also bee blocks. Bee beetle (Zoöl.), a beetle (Trichodes apiarius) parasitic in beehives. — Bee bird (Zoöl.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird. — Bee flower (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus Ophrys (O. apifera), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects. — Bee fly (Zoöl.), a two winged fly of the family Bombyliidæ. Some species, in the larval state, are parasitic upon bees. — Bee garden, a garden or inclosure to set beehives in ; an apiary. Mortimer. — Bee glue, a soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement the combs to the hives, and close up the cells; — called also propolis. — Bee hawk (Zoöl.), the honey buzzard. — Bee killer (Zoöl.), a large two-winged fly of the family Asilidæ (esp. Trupanea apivora) which feeds upon the honeybee. See Robber fly. — Bee louse (Zoöl.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect (Braula cæca) parasitic on hive bees. — Bee martin (Zoöl.), the kingbird (Tyrannus Carolinensis) which occasionally feeds on bees. — Bee moth (Zoöl.), a moth (Galleria cereana) whose larvæ feed on honeycomb, occasioning great damage in beehives. — Bee wolf (Zoöl.), the larva of the bee beetle. See Illust. of Bee beetle. — To have a bee in the head or in the bonnet. (a) To be choleric. [Obs.] (b) To be restless or uneasy. B. Jonson. (c) To be full of fancies; to be a little crazy. "She's whiles crack-brained, and has a bee in her head." Sir W. Scott.
BEEBREADBee"bread`, n.
Defn: A brown, bitter substance found in some of the cells of honeycomb. It is made chiefly from the pollen of flowers, which is collected by bees as food for their young.
BEECH Beech, n.; pl. Beeches. Etym: [OE. beche, AS. b; akin to D. beuk, OHG. buocha, G. buche, Icel. beyki, Dan. bög, Sw. bok, Russ. buk, L. fagus, Gr. oak, to eat, Skr. bhaksh; the tree being named originally from the esculent fruit. See Book, and cf. 7th Buck, Buckwheat.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree of the genus Fagus.
Note: It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of which swine are fond. The Fagus sylvatica is the European species, and the F. ferruginea that of America. Beech drops (Bot.), a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of beeches (Epiphegus Americana). — Beech marten (Zoöl.), the stone marten of Europe (Mustela foina). — Beech mast, the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under the trees, in autumn. — Beech oil, oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech tree. — Cooper beech, a variety of the European beech with copper- colored, shining leaves.
BEECHENBeech"en, a. Etym: [AS. b.]
Defn: Consisting, or made, of the wood or bark of the beech; belonging to the beech. "Plain beechen vessels." Dryden.
BEECHNUTBeech"nut`, n.
Defn: The nut of the beech tree.
BEECH TREEBeech" tree`.
Defn: The beech.
BEECHYBeech"y, a.
Defn: Of or relating to beeches.
BEE-EATER Bee"-eat`er, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A bird of the genus Merops, that feeds on bees. The European species (M. apiaster) is remarkable for its brilliant colors. (b) An African bird of the genus Rhinopomastes.
BEEF Beef, n. Etym: [OE. boef, befe, beef, OF. boef, buef, F. b, fr. L. bos, bovis, ox; akin to Gr. , Skr. g cow, and E. cow. See 2d Cow.]
1. An animal of the genus Bos, especially the common species, B. taurus, including the bull, cow, and ox, in their full grown state; esp., an ox or cow fattened for food.
Note: [In this, which is the original sense, the word has a plural,beeves (.]A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine. Milton.
2. The flesh of an ox, or cow, or of any adult bovine animal, when slaughtered for food.
Note: [In this sense, the word has no plural.] "Great meals of beef."Shak.
3. Applied colloquially to human flesh.
BEEFBeef, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, beef. Beef tea, essence of beef, or strong beef broth.
BEEFEATER Beef"eat`er, n. Etym: [Beef + eater; prob. one who eats another's beef, as his servant. Cf. AS. hlaf servant, properly a loaf eater.]
1. One who eats beef; hence, a large, fleshy person.
2. One of the yeomen of the guard, in England.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An African bird of the genus Buphaga, which feeds on the larvæ of botflies hatched under the skin of oxen, antelopes, etc. Two species are known.
BEEFSTEAKBeef"steak`, n.
Defn: A steak of beef; a slice of beef broiled or suitable for broiling.
BEEF-WITTEDBeef"-wit`ted, n.
Defn: Stupid; dull. Shak.
BEEFWOODBeef"wood`, n.
Defn: An Australian tree (Casuarina), and its red wood, used for cabinetwork; also, the trees Stenocarpus salignus of New South Wales, and Banksia compar of Queensland.
BEEFYBeef"y, a.
Defn: Having much beef; of the nature of beef; resembling beef; fleshy.
BEEHIVEBee"hive`, n.
Defn: A hive for a swarm of bees. Also used figuratively.
Note: A common and typical form of beehive was a domeshaped inverted basket, whence certain ancient Irish and Scotch architectural remains are called beehive houses.
BEEHOUSEBee"house`, n.
Defn: A house for bees; an apiary.
BEE LARKSPURBee" lark`spur.
Defn: (Bot.) See Larkspur.
BEELDBeeld, n.
Defn: Same as Beild. Fairfax.
BEE LINEBee" line`.
Defn: The shortest line from one place to another, like that of a bee to its hive when loaded with honey; an air line. "A bee line for the brig." Kane.
BEELZEBUBBe*el"ze*bub, n.
Defn: The title of a heathen deity to whom the Jews ascribed the sovereignty of the evil spirits; hence, the Devil or a devil. See Baal.
BEEMBeem, n. Etym: [AS. b, b.]
Defn: A trumpet. [Obs.]
BEEMASTERBee"mas`ter, n.
Defn: One who keeps bees.
BEENBeen. Etym: [OE. beon, ben, bin, p. p. of been, beon, to be. See Be.]
Defn: The past participle of Be. In old authors it is also the pr. tense plural of Be. See 1st Bee. Assembled been a senate grave and stout. Fairfax.
BEER Beer, n. Etym: [OE. beor, ber, AS. beór; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. *93, See Brew.]
1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other substance to impart a bitter flavor.
Note: Beer has different names, as small beer, ale, porter, brown stout, lager beer, according to its strength, or other qualities. See Ale.
2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc. Small beer, weak beer; (fig.) insignificant matters. "To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer." Shak.
BEEREGARBeer"e*gar, n. Etym: [Beer + eager.]
Defn: Sour beer. [Obs.]
BEERHOUSEBeer"house`, n.
Defn: A house where malt liquors are sold; an alehouse.
BEERINESSBeer"i*ness, n.
Defn: Beery condition.
BEERYBeer"y, a.
Defn: Of or resembling beer; affected by beer; maudlin.
BEESTINGSBeest"ings, n.
Defn: Same as Biestings.
BEESWAXBees"wax`, n.
Defn: The wax secreted by bees, and of which their cells are constructed.
BEESWINGBees"wing`, n.
Defn: The second crust formed in port and some other wines after long keeping. It consists of pure, shining scales of tartar, supposed to resemble the wing of a bee.
BEETBeet, n. Etym: [AS. bete, from L. beta.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A biennial plant of the genus Beta, which produces an edible root the first year and seed the second year.
2. The root of plants of the genus Beta, different species and varieties of which are used for the table, for feeding stock, or in making sugar.
Note: There are many varieties of the common beet (Beta vulgaris). The Old "white beet", cultivated for its edible leafstalks, is a distinct species (Beta Cicla).
BEETE; BETEBeete, Bete, v. t. Etym: [AS. b to mend. See Better.]
1. To mend; to repair. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To renew or enkindle (a fire). [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEETLE Bee"tle, n. Etym: [OE. betel, AS. bitl, b, mallet, hammer, fr. beátan to beat. See Beat, v. t.]
1. A heavy mallet, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.
2. A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; — called also beetling machine. Knight.
BEETLEBee"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beetled; p. pr. & vb. n. Beetling.]
1. To beat with a heavy mallet.
2. To finish by subjecting to a hammering process in a beetle or beetling machine; as, to beetle cotton goods.
BEETLE Bee"tle, n. Etym: [OE. bityl, bittle, AS. b, fr. b to bite. See Bite, v. t.]
Defn: Any insect of the order Coleoptera, having four wings, the outer pair being stiff cases for covering the others when they are folded up. See Coleoptera. Beetle mite (Zoöl.), one of many species of mites, of the family Oribatidæ, parasitic on beetles. — Black beetle, the common large black cockroach (Blatta orientalis).
BEETLEBee"tle, v. i. Etym: [See Beetlebrowed.]
Defn: To extend over and beyond the base or support; to overhang; tojut.To the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base intothe sea. Shak.Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime. Wordsworth.
BEETLE BROWBee"tle brow`.
Defn: An overhanging brow.
BEETLE-BROWED Bee"tle-browed`, a. Etym: [OE. bitelbrowed; cf. OE. bitel, adj., sharp, projecting, n., a beetle. See Beetle an insect.]
Defn: Having prominent, overhanging brows; hence, lowering or sullen.
Note: The earlier meaning was, "Having bushy or overhanging eyebrows."
BEETLEHEADBee"tle*head`, n. Etym: [Beetle a mallet + head.]
1. A stupid fellow; a blockhead. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The black-bellied plover, or bullhead (Squatarola helvetica).See Plover.
BEETLE-HEADEDBee"tle-head`ed, a.
Defn: Dull; stupid. Shak.
BEETLESTOCKBee"tle*stock`, n.
Defn: The handle of a beetle.
BEET RADISHBeet" rad`ish.
Defn: Same as Beetrave.
BEETRAVEBeet"rave`, n. Etym: [F. betterave; bette beet + rave radish.]
Defn: The common beet (Beta vulgaris).
BEEVEBeeve, n. Etym: [Formed from beeves, pl. of beef.]
Defn: A beef; a beef creature.They would knock down the first beeve they met with. W. Irving.
BEEVESBeeves, n.
Defn: ; plural of Beef, the animal.
BEFALLBe*fall", v. t. [imp. Befell; p. p. Befallen; p. pr. & vb. n.Befalling.] Etym: [AS. befeallan; pref. be- + feallan to fall.]
Defn: To happen to.I beseech your grace that I may know The worst that may befall me.Shak.
BEFALLBe*fall", v. i.
Defn: To come to pass; to happen.I have revealed . . . the discord which befell. Milton.
BEFITBe*fit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Befitting.]
Defn: To be suitable to; to suit; to become.That name best befits thee. Milton.
BEFITTINGBe*fit"ting, a.
Defn: Suitable; proper; becoming; fitting.
BEFITTINGLYBe*fit"ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In a befitting manner; suitably.
BEFLATTERBe*flat"ter, v. t.
Defn: To flatter excessively.
BEFLOWERBe*flow"er, v. t.
Defn: To besprinkle or scatter over with, or as with, flowers.Hobbes.
BEFOGBe*fog", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Befogging.]
1. To involve in a fog; — mostly as a participle or part. adj.
2. Hence: To confuse; to mystify.
BEFOOLBe*fool", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befooled; p. pr. & vb. n. Befooling.]Etym: [OE. befolen; pref. be- + fol fool.]
1. To fool; to delude or lead into error; to infatuate; to deceive. This story . . . contrived to befool credulous men. Fuller.
2. To cause to behave like a fool; to make foolish. "Some befooling drug." G. Eliot.
BEFORE Be*fore", prep. Etym: [OE. beforen, biforen, before, AS. beforan; pref. be- + foran, fore, before. See Be-, and Fore.]
1. In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before thefire; before the house.His angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire.Milton.
2. Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the time when; — sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order that. Before Abraham was, I am. John viii. 58. Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary. Swift.
Note: Formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that. "Before that Philip called thee . . . I saw thee." John i. 48.
3. An advance of; farther onward, in place or time. The golden age . . . is before us. Carlyle.
4. Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth;rather than.He that cometh after me is preferred before me. John i. 15.The eldest son is before the younger in succession. Johnson.
5. In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing. Abraham bowed down himself before the people. Gen. xxiii. 12. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord Micah vi. 6.
6. Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of. If a suit be begun before an archdeacon. Ayliffe.
7. Open for; free of access to; in the power of. The world was all before them where to choose. Milton. Before the mast (Naut.), as a common sailor, — because the sailors live in the forecastle, forward of the foremast. — Before the wind (Naut.), in the direction of the wind and by its impulse; having the wind aft.
BEFOREBe*fore", adv.
1. On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; — opposed to in the rear. The battle was before and behind. 2 Chron. xiii. 14.
2. In advance. "I come before to tell you." Shak.
3. In time past; previously; already. You tell me, mother, what I knew before. Dryden.
4. Earlier; sooner than; until then. When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before. Shak.
Note: Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before- cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid.
BEFOREHANDBe*fore"hand`, adv. Etym: [Before + hand.]
1. In a state of anticipation ore preoccupation; in advance; — oftenfollowed by with.Agricola . . . resolves to be beforehand with the danger. Milton.The last cited author has been beforehand with me. Addison.
2. By way of preparation, or preliminary; previously; aforetime. They may be taught beforehand the skill of speaking. Hooker.
BEFOREHANDBe*fore"hand`, a.
Defn: In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded.Rich and much beforehand. Bacon.
BEFORETIMEBe*fore"time`, adv.
Defn: Formerly; aforetime.[They] dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. 2 Kings xiii. 5.
BEFORTUNEBe*for"tune, v. t.
Defn: To befall. [Poetic]I wish all good befortune you. Shak.
BEFOULBe*foul", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befouled; p. pr. & vb. n. Befouling.]Etym: [Cf. AS. bef; pref. be- + f to foul. See Foul, a.]
1. To make foul; to soil.
2. To entangle or run against so as to impede motion.
BEFRIENDBe*friend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befriended; p. pr. & vb. n.Befriending.]
Defn: To act as a friend to; to favor; to aid, benefit, orcountenance.By the darkness befriended. Longfellow.
BEFRIENDMENTBe*friend"ment, n.
Defn: Act of befriending. [R.]
BEFRILLBe*frill", v. t.
Defn: To furnish or deck with a frill.
BEFRINGEBe*fringe", v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a fringe; to form a fringe upon; to adorn as with fringe. Fuller.
BEFUDDLEBe*fud"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befuddled]
Defn: To becloud and confuse, as with liquor.
BEGBeg, n. Etym: [Turk. beg, pronounced bay. Cf. Bey, Begum.]
Defn: A title of honor in Turkey and in some other parts of the East; a bey.
BEG Beg, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begged; p. pr. & vb. n. Begging.] Etym: [OE. beggen, perh. fr. AS. bedecian (akin to Goth. bedagwa beggar), biddan to ask. (Cf. Bid, v. t.); or cf. beghard, beguin.]
1. To ask earnestly for; to entreat or supplicate for; to beseech. I do beg your good will in this case. Shak. [Joseph] begged the body of Jesus. Matt. xxvii. 58.
Note: Sometimes implying deferential and respectful, rather than earnest, asking; as, I beg your pardon; I beg leave to disagree with you.
2. To ask for as a charity, esp. to ask for habitually or from house to house. Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Ps. xxxvii. 25.
3. To make petition to; to entreat; as, to beg a person to grant a favor.
4. To take for granted; to assume without proof.
5. (Old Law)
Defn: To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for. Else some will beg thee, in the court of wards. Harrington. Hence: To beg (one) for a fool, to take him for a fool. I beg to, is an elliptical expression for I beg leave to; as, I beg to inform you. — To bag the question, to assume that which was to be proved in a discussion, instead of adducing the proof or sustaining the point by argument. — To go a-begging, a figurative phrase to express the absence of demand for something which elsewhere brings a price; as, grapes are so plentiful there that they go a-begging.
Syn. — To Beg, Ask, Request. To ask (not in the sense of inquiring) is the generic term which embraces all these words. To request is only a polite mode of asking. To beg, in its original sense, was to ask with earnestness, and implied submission, or at least deference. At present, however, in polite life, beg has dropped its original meaning, and has taken the place of both ask and request, on the ground of its expressing more of deference and respect. Thus, we beg a person's acceptance of a present; we beg him to favor us with his company; a tradesman begs to announce the arrival of new goods, etc. Crabb remarks that, according to present usage, "we can never talk of asking a person's acceptance of a thing, or of asking him to do us a favor." This can be more truly said of usage in England than in America.
BEGBeg, v. i.
Defn: To ask alms or charity, especially to ask habitually by the wayside or from house to house; to live by asking alms. I can not dig; to beg I am ashamed. Luke xvi. 3.
BEGABe"ga, n.
Defn: See Bigha.
BEGEMBe*gem", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begemmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Begemming.]
Defn: To adorn with gems, or as with gems.Begemmed with dewdrops. Sir W. Scott.Those lonely realms bright garden isles begem. Shelley.
BEGET Be*get", v. t. [imp. Begot, (Archaic) Begat (; p. p. Begot, Begotten (; p. pr. & vb. n. Begetting.] Etym: [OE. bigiten, bigeten, to get, beget, AS. begitan to get; pref. be- + gitan. See Get, v. t. ]
1. To procreate, as a father or sire; to generate; — commonly said of the father. Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget. Milton.
2. To get (with child.) [Obs.] Shak.
3. To produce as an effect; to cause to exist. Love is begot by fancy. Granville.
BEGETTERBe*get"ter, n.
Defn: One who begets; a father.
BEGGABLEBeg"ga*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being begged.
BEGGARBeg"gar, n. Etym: [OE. beggere, fr. beg.]
1. One who begs; one who asks or entreats earnestly, or with humility; a petitioner.
2. One who makes it his business to ask alms.
3. One who is dependent upon others for support; — a contemptuous or sarcastic use.
4. One who assumes in argument what he does not prove. Abp. Tillotson.
BEGGARBeg"gar, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beggared; p. pr. & vb. n. Beggaring.]
1. To reduce to beggary; to impoverish; as, he had beggared himself. Milton.
2. To cause to seem very poor and inadequate. It beggared all description. Shak.
BEGGARHOODBeg"gar*hood, n.
Defn: The condition of being a beggar; also, the class of beggars.
BEGGARISMBeg"gar*ism, n.
Defn: Beggary. [R.]
BEGGARLINESSBeg"gar*li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being beggarly; meanness.
BEGGARLYBeg"gar*ly, a.
1. In the condition of, or like, a beggar; suitable for a beggar; extremely indigent; poverty-stricken; mean; poor; contemptible. "A bankrupt, beggarly fellow." South. "A beggarly fellowship." Swift. "Beggarly elements." Gal. iv. 9.
2. Produced or occasioned by beggary. [Obs.] Beggarly sins, that is, those sins which idleness and beggary usually betray men to; such as lying, flattery, stealing, and dissimulation. Jer. Taylor.
BEGGARLYBeg"gar*ly, adv.
Defn: In an indigent, mean, or despicable manner; in the manner of a beggar.
BEGGAR'S LICEBeg"gar's lice`. (Bot.)
Defn: The prickly fruit or seed of certain plants (as some species of Echinospermum and Cynoglossum) which cling to the clothing of those who brush by them.
BEGGAR'S TICKSBeg"gar's ticks`.
Defn: The bur marigold (Bidens) and its achenes, which are armed with barbed awns, and adhere to clothing and fleeces with unpleasant tenacity.
BEGGARYBeg"gar*y, n. Etym: [OE. beggerie. See Beggar, n.]
1. The act of begging; the state of being a beggar; mendicancy; extreme poverty.
2. Beggarly appearance. [R.] The freedom and the beggary of the old studio. Thackeray.
Syn.— Indigence; want; penury; mendicancy.
BEGGARYBeg"gar*y, a.
Defn: Beggarly. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BEGGESTEREBeg"ge*stere, n. Etym: [Beg + -ster.]
Defn: A beggar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEGHARD; BEGUARDBe*ghard" Be*guard", n. Etym: [F. bégard, béguard; cf. G. beghard,LL. Beghardus, Begihardus, Begardus. Prob. from the root of beguine +-ard or -hard. See Beguine.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of an association of religious laymen living in imitation of the Beguines. They arose in the thirteenth century, were afterward subjected to much persecution, and were suppressed by Innocent X. in 1650. Called also Beguins.
BEGILDBe*gild", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begilded or Begilt.]
Defn: To gild. B. Jonson.
BEGIN Be*gin", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Began, Begun; p. pr. & vb. n. Beginning.] Etym: [AS. beginnan (akin to OS. biginnan, D. & G. beginnen, OHG. biginnan, Goth., du-ginnan, Sw. begynna, Dan. begynde); pref. be- + an assumed ginnan. sq. root31. See Gin to begin.]
1. To have or commence an independent or first existence; to take rise; to commence. Vast chain of being! which from God began. Pope.
2. To do the first act or the first part of an action; to enter upon or commence something new, as a new form or state of being, or course of action; to take the first step; to start. "Tears began to flow." Dryden. When I begin, I will also make an end. 1 Sam. iii. 12.
BEGINBe*gin", v. t.
1. To enter on; to commence. Ye nymphs of Solyma ! begin the song. Pope.
2. To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of. The apostle begins our knowledge in the creatures, which leads us to the knowledge of God. Locke.
Syn.— To commence; originate; set about; start.
BEGINBe*gin", n.
Defn: Beginning. [Poetic & Obs.] Spenser.
BEGINNERBe*gin"ner, n.
Defn: One who begins or originates anything. Specifically: A young or inexperienced practitioner or student; a tyro. A sermon of a new beginner. Swift.
BEGINNINGBe*gin"ning, n.
1. The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Gen. i. 1.
2. That which begins or originates something; the first cause; origin; source. I am . . . the beginning and the ending. Rev. i. 8.
3. That which is begun; a rudiment or element. Mighty things from small beginnings grow. Dryden.
4. Enterprise. "To hinder our beginnings." Shak.
Syn. — Inception; prelude; opening; threshold; origin; outset; foundation.
BEGIRDBe*gird", v. t. [imp. Begirt, Begirded; p. p. Begirt; p. pr. & vb. n.Begirding.] Etym: [AS. begyrdan (akin to Goth. bigairdan); pref. be-+ gyrdan to gird.]
1. To bind with a band or girdle; to gird.
2. To surround as with a band; to encompass.
BEGIRDLEBe*gir"dle, v. t.
Defn: To surround as with a girdle.
BEGIRTBe*girt", v. t.
Defn: To encompass; to begird. Milton.
BEGLERBEGBeg"ler*beg`, n. Etym: [Turk. beglerbeg, fr. beg, pl. begler. SeeBeg, n.]
Defn: The governor of a province of the Ottoman empire, next in dignity to the grand vizier.
BEGNAW Be*gnaw", v. t. [p. p. Begnawed, (R.) Begnawn (.] Etym: [AS. begnagan; pref. be- + gnagan to gnaw.]
Defn: To gnaw; to eat away; to corrode.The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul. Shak.
BEGODBe*god", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begodded.]
Defn: To exalt to the dignity of a god; to deify. [Obs.] "Begodded saints." South.
BEGOHMBeg"ohm`, n. (Elec.)
Defn: A unit of resistance equal to one billion ohms, or one thousand megohms.
BEGONEBe*gone", interj. Etym: [Be, v. i. + gone, p. p.]
Defn: Go away; depart; get you gone.
BEGONEBe*gone", p. p. Etym: [OE. begon, AS. bigan; pref. be- + gan to go.]
Defn: Surrounded; furnished; beset; environed (as in woe-begone).[Obs.] Gower. Chaucer.
BEGONIABe*go"ni*a, n. Etym: [From Michel Begon, a promoter of botany.](Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants, mostly of tropical America, many species of which are grown as ornamental plants. The leaves are curiously one- sided, and often exhibit brilliant colors.
BEGOREBe*gore", v. t.
Defn: To besmear with gore.
BEGOTBe*got",
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Beget.
BEGOTTENBe*got"ten,
Defn: p. p. of Beget.
BEGRAVE Be*grave", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + grave; akin to G. begraben, Goth. bigraban to dig a ditch around.]
Defn: To bury; also, to engrave. [Obs.] Gower.
BEGREASEBe*grease", v. t.
Defn: To soil or daub with grease or other oily matter.
BEGRIMEBe*grime", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begrimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Begriming.]
Defn: To soil with grime or dirt deeply impressed or rubbed in.Books falling to pieces and begrimed with dust. Macaulay.
BEGRIMERBe*grim"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, begrimes.
BEGRUDGEBe*grudge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begrudged; p. pr. & vb. n.Begrudging.]
Defn: To grudge; to envy the possession of.
BEGUILEBe*guile", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beguiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Beguiling.]
1. To delude by guile, artifice, or craft; to deceive or impose on, as by a false statement; to lure. The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Gen. iii. 13.
2. To elude, or evade by craft; to foil. [Obs.] When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage. Shak.
3. To cause the time of to pass without notice; to relieve the tedium or weariness of; to while away; to divert. Ballads . . . to beguile his incessant wayfaring. W. Irving.
Syn. — To delude; deceive; cheat; insnare; mislead; amuse; divert; entertain.
BEGUILEMENTBe*guile"ment, n.
Defn: The act of beguiling, or the state of being beguiled.
BEGUILERBe*guil"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, beguiles.
BEGUILINGBe*guil"ing, a.
Defn: Alluring by guile; deluding; misleading; diverting.— Be*guil"ing*ly, adv.
BEGUINBe`guin", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Beghard.
BEGUINAGEBe`gui`nage", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A collection of small houses surrounded by a wall and occupied by a community of Beguines.
BEGUINEBe`guine", n. Etym: [F. béguine; LL. beguina, beghina; fr. Lambert leBègue (the Stammerer) the founder of the order. (Du Cange.)]
Defn: A woman belonging to one of the religious and charitable associations or communities in the Netherlands, and elsewhere, whose members live in beguinages and are not bound by perpetual vows.
BEGUMBe"gum, n. Etym: [Per., fr. Turk., perh. properly queen mother, fr.Turk. beg (see Beg, n.) + Ar. umm mother.]
Defn: In the East Indies, a princess or lady of high rank. Malcom.
BEGUNBe*gun", p. p.
Defn: of Begin.
BEHALF Be*half", n. Etym: [OE. on-behalve in the name of, bihalven by the side of, fr. AS. healf half, also side, part: akin to G. halb half, halber on account of. See Be-, and Half, n.]
Defn: Advantage; favor; stead; benefit; interest; profit; support;defense; vindication.In behalf of his mistress's beauty. Sir P. Sidney.Against whom he had contracted some prejudice in behalf of hisnation. Clarendon.In behalf of, in the interest of.— On behalf of, on account of; on the part of.
BEHAPPENBe*hap"pen, v. t.
Defn: To happen to. [Obs.]
BEHAVE Be*have", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Behaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Behaving.] Etym: [AS. behabban to surround, restrain, detain (akin to G. gehaben (obs.) to have, sich gehaben to behave or carry one's self); pref. be- + habban to have. See Have, v. t. ]
1. To manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to handle; to restrain. [Obs.] He did behave his anger ere 't was spent. Shak.
2. To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; — used reflexively. Those that behaved themselves manfully. 2 Macc. ii. 21.
BEHAVEBe*have", v. i.
Defn: To act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to behave well or ill.
Note: This verb is often used colloquially without an adverb of manner; as, if he does not behave, he will be punished. It is also often applied to inanimate objects; as, the ship behaved splendidly.
BEHAVIORBe*hav"ior, n.
Defn: Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; mode of conducting one's self; conduct; deportment; carriage; — used also of inanimate objects; as, the behavior of a ship in a storm; the behavior of the magnetic needle. A gentleman that is very singular in his behavior. Steele. To be upon one's good behavior, To be put upon one's good behavior, to be in a state of trial, in which something important depends on propriety of conduct. — During good behavior, while (or so long as) one conducts one's self with integrity and fidelity or with propriety.
Syn. — Bearing; demeanor; manner. — Behavior, Conduct. Behavior is the mode in which we have or bear ourselves in the presence of others or toward them; conduct is the mode of our carrying ourselves forward in the concerns of life. Behavior respects our manner of acting in particular cases; conduct refers to the general tenor of our actions. We may say of soldiers, that their conduct had been praiseworthy during the whole campaign, and their behavior admirable in every instance when they met the enemy.
BEHEADBe*head", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beheaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Beheading.]Etym: [OE. bihefden, AS. beheáfdian; pref. be- + heáfod head. SeeHead.]
Defn: To sever the head from; to take off the head of.
BEHEADALBe*head"al
Defn: ,n.Beheading. [Modern]
BEHELDBe*held",
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Behold.