Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Be-sprĕnt’, p. p. p. 128Sprinkled over. His face besprent with liquid crystal shines. Shenstone.Be-sprēnt', v. t. p. 128To sprinkle over. [Obs.] Holland.Be-sprĭnk'le, v. t. p. 128To sprinkle over; to scatter over. The bed besprinkles, and bedews the ground. Dryden.Be-sprink'ler, n. p. 128One that sprinkles over.Be-sprink'lings, n. pl. p. 128Sprinklings.Bĕst, a. superl. p. 128Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities. When he is best, he is little more than a man. Shak. Heaven's last, best…Bēst, n. p. 128Utmost; highest endeavor; as, to do one's best; to the best of our ability. At best, in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the case; as, life is at best very short.—For best, finally. [Obs.]…Bĕst, adv. p. 128In the highest degree; beyond all other; as, to love one best. “That name best befits thee.” Milton. 2. To the most advantage; with the most success, profit, ease, benefit, or propriety. “Had we best…Be-stāin’, v. t. p. 128To mark with stains; to discolor, either the whole surface of a thing, or in spots. And all with blood bestain his cheeks. Shak.Be-stēad' (-stēd'), v. t. p. 128To place, or dispose, or circumstance, as to condition, convenience, benefit, and the like; to situate; to assist; to serve. How little you bestead Or fill the fixed mind with all your toys. Milton.…Bĕs'tial, a. p. 128Belonging to a beast, or to the class of beasts. “Among the bestial herds to range.” Milton. 2. Having the qualities of a beast; brutal; below the dignity of reason or humanity; carnal. “A bestial…Bes-tiăl'i-ty, n. p. 128The quality of a beast; brutism. Arbuthnot. 2. Unnatural connection with a beast.Bēs'tial-ize, v. t. p. 128To make bestial, or like a beast. The process of bestializing humanity. Hare.Bĕs'tial-ly, adv. p. 128In a manner like that of a beast, or below that of humanity.Be-stick’, v. t. p. 128To stick over, as with sharp points; to mark by infixing points or spots here and there. Truth shall retire, bestuck with slanderous darts. Milton.Be-stir', v. t. p. 128To put into brisk or vigorous action; to move with life and vigor; — usually with the reciprocal pronoun. “You have so bestirred your valor.” Shak. Rouse, and bestir themselves ere well awake. Milton.Bĕst'ness, n. p. 128The state of being best, or most excellent. [Obs.] Morton.Be-stôrm', v. i. p. 128To be in violent agitation; to toss; to rage. Young.Be-storm', v. t. p. 128To overtake with a storm. “Boats bestormed.” Davenant.Be-stōw’, v. t. p. 128To lay up in store; to deposit for safe keeping; to stow; to place; to put. He bestowed it in a pouch lined with perfumed leather. W. Scott. 2. To make use of; to use; to apply. Thou shalt bestow…Be-stōw'age, n. p. 128Stowage. [Rare.] Bp. Hall.Be-stōw'al, n. p. 128Act of bestowing; disposal.Be-stōw'er, n. p. 128One who bestows; a giver; a disposer.Be-stōw'ment, n. p. 128The act of bestowing; bestowal. If we consider this bestowment of gifts in this view. Chauncey. Whatever may be the secret counsel of his will respecting his own bestowment of saving grace. Smalley.…Be-străd'dle, v. t. p. 128To bestride. See STRADDLE.Be-straught' (-strawt'), a. p. 128Out of one's senses; distracted; mad. [Obs.] Shak.Be-straw′, v. a. p. 128Same as BESTREW. [Obs.]Be·strew', v. t. p. 128To scatter over; to besprinkle; to strow. Milton.Be-strīde', v. t. p. 128To stride over; to stand or sit with any thing between the legs, or with the legs extended across. “The horse that thou hast so oft bestrid.” Shak. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a…Be-strōde', imp. p. 128of bestride.Be-strōwn’, p. p. p. 128of bestrew.Be-stŭck', imp. & p. p. p. 128of bestick.Be-stŭd', v. t. p. 128To set or adorn with studs or bosses; as, to bestud with stars. Milton.Be-sure', adv. p. 128Certainly.Be-swi'ke, v. t. p. 128To allure. [Obs.] Gower.Bět, n. p. 128That which is laid, staked, or pledged, as between two parties, upon the event of a contest or any contingent issue; the act of giving such a pledge; a wager. “Having made his bets.” Goldsmith.Bĕt, v. t. p. 128To stake or pledge upon the event of a contingent issue; to wager. John of Gaunt loved him well, and betted much upon his head. Shak. Bĕt, the old participle of bet, is obsolete or vulgar. The word…Be-tāke', v. t. p. 128To have recourse to; to apply; to resort; — with the reciprocal pronoun. They betook themselves to treaty and submission. Burke. The rest in imitation, to like arms Betook them. Milton. 2. To take or…Be-tāk'en, p. p. p. 128of betake.Be-taught', imp. p. 128of betake. [Obs.]. Chaucer.Be-teen’, v. t. p. 128To bring forth; to produce; to shed; to bestow. [Obs.] — Spenser.Be-teem′, v. t. p. 128To allow; to permit; to suffer. [Obs.] So loving to my mother, That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Shak.Bē'tel, n. p. 128(Bot.) A species of pepper (Piper betel), the leaves of which are chewed, with the areca or betel-nut and a little shell-lime, by the inhabitants of the East Indies. It is a creeping or climbing…Bē'tel-nūt, n. p. 128The nut of the areca palm, chewed in the East with betel leaves (whence its name) and lime. Loudon.Bēth'el, n. p. 128A chapel for dissenters. [Eng.] 2. A house of worship for seamen. [Amer.]Be-think', v. t. p. 128To call to mind; to recall or bring to recollection, reflection, or consideration; — generally followed by a reflexive pronoun, with of before the subject of thought. I have bethought myself of…Be-thĭnk', v. i. p. 128To think; to recollect; to consider. Spenser.Bĕth'le-hem, n. p. 128A hospital for lunatics; — corrupted into bellum.Bĕth'le-hem-ite or Bĕth'lem-ite, n. p. 128An insane person; a madman; a bedlamite. 2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of an order of monks, in the 13th century, who dressed like the Dominicans, except that they wore a star with five rays, in memory of the…Be-thought', imp. & p. p. p. 128of bethink.Be-thrall′, v. t. p. 128To reduce to bondage; to bring into subjection; to enslave; to inthrall. [Obs.] Shak.Be-thŭmp', v. t. p. 128To beat soundly. [Rare.] Shak.Be-tīde', v. t. p. 128To happen to; to befall; to come to. “What will betide the few?” Milton.Be-tīde', v. i. p. 128To come to pass; to happen. What news else betideth here? Shak. ☞ Shakespeare has used it with of. “What would betide of thee?” But this is unusual.Be-tīme' or Be-tīmes', adv. p. 128In good season or time; before it is late; seasonably. To measure life learn thou betimes. Milton. To rise betimes is often harder than to do all the day's work. Barrow. 2. In a short time; soon. He…Be-tō'ken, v. t. p. 128To signify by some visible object; to show by signs. A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow, Betokening peace from God. Milton. 2. To foreshow by present signs; to indicate something future by that…Be-tŏn', n. p. 128(Masonry.) A kind of concrete or hydraulic cement, rendered more compact by being mixed with gravel, pebbles, &c., and used in submarine works as a foundation of masonry. Simmonds.Bĕt'o-ny, n. p. 128(Bot.) A plant of the genus Betonica (Linn.). The purple or wood betony (B. officinalis, Linn.) grows in shady places, and was formerly used in medicine as a mild corroborant: it is also used to dye…Be-tōok', imp. p. 128of betake.Be-tōrn', a. p. 128Torn in pieces.