Bee"mas`ter (&?;), n. One who keeps bees.
Been (&?;). [OE. beon, ben, bin, p. p. of been, beon, to be. See Be.] 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 (&?;), n. [OE. beor, ber, AS. beór; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bj&?;rr, 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.
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.