BEN, ben, _prep._ and _adv._ in toward the inner apartment of a
house.--_n._ the inner apartment of a house, as opposed to the _But_ or
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_.]
[Illustration]
BEND, bend, _v.t._ to curve or bow: to make crooked: to turn or
incline--mostly in passive, to be inclined _to_, _towards_, to be given
_to_: 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 (with _to_, _before_, _towards_):--_pa.p._ bend'ed or
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 the _Bendlet_, _Cotise_, and
_Ribbon_.--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-n[=e]th', _prep._ under, or lower in place: inside of, behind:
unworthy the dignity of, unbecoming. [A.S. _bi-nathan_.]
BENEDICITE, ben-[=e]-dis'i-te, _n._ the canticle beginning _'Benedicite_
omnia opera Domini' ('O all ye works of the Lord'), from the Apocryphal
_Song of the Three Holy Children_--in the Anglican morning service an
alternate to the _Te 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--from _Benedick_ in Shakespeare's _Much 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 St _Benedict_ of 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 (with
_from_),--_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 the _annus deliberandi_ an 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 as _Friendly 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'l[=e], _adj._ of or belonging to _Bengal_.--_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-n[=i]t'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-_ and NIGHT.]
BENIGN, ben-[=i]n', _adj._ favourable, esp. in astrology, as opposed to
_malign_: 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_, for _benigenus_; _bene_, well, _genus_,
born.]
BENISON, ben'izn, _n._ benediction, blessing, esp. blessing of God. [O. Fr.
_beneiçun_--L. _benediction-em_.]
BENITIER, b[=a]-n[=e]'ti[=a], _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 Gipsy _béngari_, '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. of BENZOIN.]
BENNET, ben'et, _n._ the herb Bennet or common avens (_Geum urbanum_), a
yellow-flowered wayside plant throughout Europe. [Through Fr. from L.
'herba _benedicta_,' the flower being a protective against the devil.]
BENNET, ben'et, _n._ the same as BENT, indeed an earlier form.
BENT, bent, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of BEND.
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. [See BEND.]
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.--Often
BENT'-GRASS.--BEN'NET is 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, as _Beonetléah_, 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 Jeremy _Bentham_ (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 of _cold_): to deaden the feelings: to paralyse
generally.--_p.adj._ BENUMBED'.--_ns._ BENUMBED'NESS, BENUMB'MENT. [Pfx.
_be-_ and NUMB.]
BENZENE, ben'z[=e]n, _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 with _benzine_ or _benzoyl_, which names have at different
times been used for benzene.--BEN'ZINE is 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'ZOYL is the commercial name applied
to a mixture of substances, including benzene and its homologues.--BEN'ZOL
is synonymous with benzene, while BEN'ZOLINE is a name applied to benzine
and impure benzene indiscriminately.
BENZOIN, ben'z[=o]-in, or -zoin, _n._ gum benjamin, the aromatic and
resinous juice of the _Styrax Benzoin_ of 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. _lub[=a]n
j[=a]w[=i]_, frankincense of Java, Sumatra, &c.]
BEPAINT, be-p[=a]nt', _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-p[.e]rl', _v.t._ to cover over with pearls.
BEPELT, be-p[.e]lt', _v.t._ to pelt vigorously.
BEPEPPER, be-pep'[.e]r, _v.t._ to pelt with a rain of shot or of blows.
BEPESTER, be-pest'[.e]r, _v.t._ to vex or pester greatly.
BEPITY, be-pit'i, _v.t._ to pity greatly.
BEPLUMED, be-pl[=oo]md', _p.adj._ adorned with feathers.
BEPOMMEL, be-pom'el, _v.t._ to pommel soundly.
BEPOWDER, be-pow'd[.e]r, _v.t._ to powder over.
BEPRAISE, be-pr[=a]z', _v.t._ to praise extravagantly.
BEPROSE, be-pr[=o]z', _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-kw[=e]th', _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-_,and _cweðan_, to say. See QUOTH.]
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. See QUOTH.]
BERATE, be-r[=a]t', _v.t._ (_U.S._) to scold or chide vigorously.
BERBER, b[.e]r'b[.e]r, _n._ and _adj._ 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. term _Barbari_.]
BERE, another spelling of BEAR, barley (q.v.).
BEREAN, b[=e]-r[=e]'an, _n._ one of an extinct Scottish sect of the 18th
century, named from the people of _Berea_ (Acts, xvii. 11, who derived all
knowledge of God from the Bible, but differed little from ordinary
Calvinists.
BEREAVE, be-r[=e]v', _v.t._ to rob a person of anything valued: to leave
destitute:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ bereaved'--the latter also BEREFT'.--_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. See REAVE.]
BERET, BERRET, b[.e]r'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. [See
ICEBERG.]
BERGAMASK, b[.e]r'ga-mask, _adj._ of or pertaining to _Bergamo_, whose
natives are clownish in manners and dialect.--_n._ a rustic dance of
theirs.
BERGAMOT, b[.e]r'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 of
_Bergamo_.]
BERGAMOT, b[.e]r'ga-mot, _n._ a group of varieties of pear of fine flavour.
[Fr.--It.--Turk. _begarm[=u]di_.]
BERGMEHL, b[.e]rg'm[=a]l, _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'l[=e]-an-izm, _n._ the philosophy of Bishop _Berkeley_
(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._ and _n._ BERKELEI'AN.
BERLIN, b[.e]r'lin, _n._ an old-fashioned four-wheeled covered carriage,
with a seat behind covered with a hood--also BER'LINE.--BERLIN BLUE,
Prussian blue; BERLIN WOOL, a fine dyed wool for worsted-work, knitting,
&c.
BERM, b[.e]rm, _n._ a ledge: esp. a fortification. [Fr. _berme_; Ger.
_berme_.]
BERNARDINE, b[.e]r'nard-in, _adj._ Cistercian. [From St _Bernard_ of
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, b[=a]r-sal-y[=a]'r[=e], _n.pl._ the riflemen or sharpshooters
of the Italian army, first organised in the Sardinian army in 1836. [It.;
pl. of _bersagliere_, _bersaglio_, a mark.]
BERSERK, -ER, b[.e]r'serk, -[.e]r, _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, b[.e]rth, _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 of BIRTH; from BEAR.]
BERYL, b[.e]r'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. _b[=e]ryllos_.]
BESAINT, be-s[=a]nt', _v.t._ to make a saint of.--_pa.p._ BESAINT'ED,
canonised: haunted with saints.
BESCATTER, be-skat'[.e]r, _v.t._ to scatter over.
BESCRAWL, be-skrawl', _v.t._ to scrawl or scribble over.
BESCREEN, be-skr[=e]n', _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-s[=e]ch', _v.t._ to entreat, to implore (as a person, _for_ a
thing, or _to do_ a thing): to ask or pray earnestly: to
solicit--(_Spens._) BESEEKE':--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ besought'.--_ns._
BESEECH'ER; BESEECH'ING.--_adv._ BESEECH'INGLY.--_ns._ BESEECH'INGNESS;
BESEECH'MENT. [Pfx. _be-_, and M. E. _sechen_, to SEEK.]
BESEEM, be-s[=e]m', _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-s[=e]n', _pa.p._ of good appearance, comely: well furnished
(with _well_).--BESEE' is quite obsolete.
BESET, be-set', _v.t._ to surround or set round with anything (now only in
_pa.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._ and _pa.p._
beset'.--_ns._ BESET'MENT; BESET'TER.--_p.adj._ BESET'TING, that besets, as
in 'besetting sin.'
BESHADOW, be-shad'[=o], _v.t._ to cast a shadow over.
BESHAME, be-sh[=a]m', _v.t._ to put to shame.
BESHINE, be-sh[=i]n', _v.i._ to light up.--_p.adj._ BESHONE'.
BESHREW, be-shr[=oo]', _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-_, and SHREW.]
BESIDE, be-s[=i]d', _prep._ and _adv._ by the side of, near: over and above
(in this sense, now usually BESIDES'), 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-s[=i]dz', _prep._ and _adv._ in addition, otherwise, aside:
over and above, in addition to, away from. [BESIDE, with the _s_ of the
_adv._ gen.]
BESIEGE, be-s[=e]j', _v.t._ to lay siege to: to beset with armed forces: to
throng round.--_n._ BESIEG'ER.--_adv._ BESIEG'INGLY (_rare_), urgently.
BESIGH, be-s[=i]', _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-sl[=a]v', _v.t._ to make a slave of: to call slave.
BESLAVER, be-sl[=a]v'[.e]r, _v.t._ to slaver or slobber upon: to cover with
fulsome flattery.
BESLOBBER, be-slob'[.e]r, _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-sm[=e]r', _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 as BEZONIAN.
BESOM, b[=e]'zum, _n._ an implement for sweeping, a broom: any cleansing or
purifying agent: (_Scot._) a term of reproach for a woman.--_ns._
B[=E]'SOM-HEAD, a blockhead; B[=E]'SOM-RID'ER, a witch.--TO JUMP THE BESOM
(see BROOM). [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._ and _pa.p._ of BESEECH.
BESOULED, be-s[=o]ld', _adj._ endowed with a soul.
BESPANGLE, be-spang'gl, _v.t._ to adorn with spangles, or with anything
sparkling or shining.
BESPATE, be-sp[=a]t', _p.adj._ spit upon.
BESPATTER, be-spat'[.e]r, _v.t._ to spatter or sprinkle with dirt or
anything moist: to defame.
BESPEAK, be-sp[=e]k', _v.t._ to speak for or engage beforehand: to
stipulate or ask for: to betoken.--_v.i._ (_obs._) to speak:--_pa.t._
besp[=o]ke'; _pa.p._ besp[=o]ke' and besp[=o]k'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-sp[=e]d', _v.t._ to help on.--_p.adj._ BESPED'.
BESPICE, be-sp[=i]s', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to season with spice: to drug or
poison.
BESPOKE, be-sp[=o]k', BESPOKEN, be-sp[=o]k'n, _pa.p._ of BESPEAK, 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._ and _pa.p._ bespread'.
BESPRENT, be-sprent', _pa.p._ sprinkled over: scattered. [A.S.
_besprengan_. See SPRINKLE.]
BESPRINKLE, be-spring'kl, _v.t._ to sprinkle over.
BESSEMER, bes'[.e]m-[.e]r, _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 as _superl._ of GOOD) good in the highest
degree: first: highest: most excellent.--_n._ one's utmost endeavour: the
highest perfection.--_adv._ (_superl._ of WELL) in the highest degree: in
the best manner.--_v.t._ (_coll._) to get the better of.--BEST MAN and BEST
MAID, the groomsman and bridesmaid at a wedding.--AT THE BEST, or AT 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 best _for 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_. See BETTER.]
BESTAIN, be-st[=a]n', _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 (with _by_,
of foes; _with_, of dangers, &c.): situated--usually with _ill_, _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_. See BEAST.]
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-st[.e]r', _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-st[=o]', _v.t._ to stow, place, or put by: to give or confer: to
accommodate with quarters: to apply (with _on_ and _upon_): (_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 of _distraught_--L. _dis-tractus_.]
BESTREAK, be-str[=e]k', _v.t._ to overspread with streaks.
BESTREW, be-str[=oo]', _v.t._ to strew or scatter loosely over:--_pa.p._
bestrewed', bestr[=o]wn', bestrewn' (_with_).
BESTRIDE, be-str[=i]d', _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', bestr[=o]de'; _pa.p._ bestrid', bestrid'den.
BESTUCK, be-stuk', _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of BESTICK, 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._ and _v.i._ to lay
or stake, as a bet:--_pr.p._ bet'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ bet or
bet'ted.--_ns._ BET'TER, one who bets--also BET'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 noun ABET.]
BETAKE, be-t[=a]k', _v.t._ to take one's self to, to go (with _self_): to
apply or have recourse:--_pa.t._ betook'; _pa.p._ bet[=a]k'en.
BETEEM, be-t[=e]m', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to grant, to suffer, to allow. [Most
prob. from pfx. _be-_, and TEEM.]
BETEL, b[=e]'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 Malay _vettila_.]