BETONY, bet'on-i, _n._ a common British labiate plant growing in woods, of
great repute in ancient and medieval medicine, used to dye wool yellow.
[Fr.--L. _betonica_, _vettonica_.]
BETOOK, be-took', _pa.t._ of BETAKE.
BETOSSED, be-tost', _pa.p._ (_Shak._) agitated.
BETRAY, be-tr[=a]', _v.t._ to give up treacherously: to disclose in breach
of trust: to let go basely or weakly: to deceive the innocent and trustful,
to seduce: to discover or show: to show signs of.--_ns._ BETRAY'AL, act of
betraying; BETRAY'ER, a traitor, the seducer of a trustful girl. [Pfx.
_be-_, and O. Fr. _traïr_ (Fr. _trahir_)--L. _trad[)e]re_, to deliver up.]
BETRIM, be-trim', _v.t._ to trim or set in order, to deck, to dress.
BETRODDEN, be-trod'n, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of BETREAD', to tread over or
walk upon.
BETROTH, be-troth', _v.t._ to contract or promise in order to marriage: to
affiance: (_obs._) to pledge one's self to any cause.--_ns._ BETROTH'AL,
BETROTH'MENT, an agreement or contract with a view to marriage. [Pfx.
_be-_, and TROTH or TRUTH.]
BETTER, bet'[.e]r, _adj._ (serves as _comp._ of GOOD) good in a greater
degree: preferable: improved: more suitable: larger: kinder: stronger in
health.--_adv._ (_comp._ of WELL) well in a greater degree: more fully or
completely: over or more than: with greater advantage: (_pl._)
superiors.--_v.t._ to make better (also reflexively, to better one's self),
to improve: to benefit: also with intransitive sense, to grow
better.--_p.adjs._ BET'TERED, improved, amended; BET'TERING,
improving.--_ns._ BET'TERING, BET'TERMENT, BET'TERNESS.--_adj._
BET'TERMOST.--BETTER HALF, a jocose term for a wife, once applied seriously
to either wife or husband, and even the soul as opposed to the body.--I HAD
BETTER = I should hold it better to--the original construction having been
a dative pronoun.--TO BE BETTER OFF, to be in superior circumstances; TO BE
BETTER THAN ONE'S SELF, to do more than one had promised; TO GET THE BETTER
OF, to gain the advantage over. [A.S. _bet_ (adv.), _betera_, better; Goth.
_batiza_, Ger. _besser_. Prob. cog. with BOOT.]
BETTY, bet'ti, _n._ a man who troubles himself with the women's work in a
household: a _slang_ name for a burglar's jemmy or _jenny_. [_Betty_,
_Bet_, familiar abbrev. of _Elizabeth_.]
BETUMBLED, be-tum'bld, _adj._ (_Shak._) tumbled or disordered.
BETUTOR, be-t[=u]'tor, _v.t._ to tutor or instruct.
BETWEEN, be-tw[=e]n', BETWIXT, be-twikst', _prep._ in the middle of two, of
space, time, or degree: in the middle or intermediate space, to defend or
separate: expressing reciprocal relation from one to another: by the joint
action of two or more persons.--_ns._ BETWEEN'-DECKS, the space between any
two decks of a ship; BETWEEN'ITY (_rare_), state of being between.--_prep._
BETWEEN'-WHILES, at intervals.--BETWEEN OURSELVES, in confidence; BETWIXT
AND BETWEEN, in a middling position.--TO GO BETWEEN, to act as a mediator.
[A.S. _betwéonum_ _betweónan_--_be_, and _twegen_, _twa_, two, twain.]
[Illustration]
BEVEL, bev'el, _n._ a slant or inclination of a surface: an instrument
opening like a pair of compasses, and adjustable for measuring
angles.--_adj._ having the form of a bevel: slanting.--_v.t._ to form with
a bevel or slant:--_pr.p._ bev'elling; _pa.p._ bev'elled.--_ns._
BEV'EL-GEAR, BEV'EL-WHEELS (_mech._), wheels working on each other in
different planes, the cogs of the wheels being bevelled or at oblique
angles to the shafts.--_p.adj._ BEV'ELLED, cut to an oblique angle, sloped
off. [Fr. _biveau_, an instrument for measuring angles; orig. unknown.]
BEVER, an obsolete form of BEAVER.
BEVERAGE, bev'[.e]r-[=a]j, _n._ drink: a mixture of cider and water: any
agreeable liquor for drinking.--_n._ BE'VER, a small repast between meals:
(_obs._) a time for drinking.--_v.i._ to take such a repast. [O. Fr.
_bevrage_ (Fr. _breuvage_), _beivre_--L. _bibere_, to drink.]
BEVY, bev'i, _n._ a brood or flock of birds, esp. of quails: a company,
esp. of ladies. [M. E. _bevey_, prob. the same as O. Fr. _bevee_, _buvee_,
drink, It. _bevuta_, a draught; the transference of sense being perh. from
a drink or a drinking-bout to a drinking-party.]
BEWAIL, be-w[=a]l', _v.t._ to lament: to mourn loudly over (esp. the
dead).--_v.i._ to utter lamentations.--_adjs._ BEWAIL'ABLE, BEWAIL'ING.
[See WAIL.]
BEWARE, be-w[=a]r', _v.i._ to be on one's guard: to be suspicious of
danger: to take care (with _of_; with clause--_lest_, _that_, _not_,
_how_). [From the words _be_ and _ware_ run together. See WARY.]
BEWEEP, be-w[=e]p', _v.t._ to weep over, to lament.--_p.adj._ BEWEPT',
disfigured by weeping.
BEWELTERED, be-wel't[.e]rd, _p.adj._ besmeared by weltering in blood. [Pfx.
_be-_, and WELTER.]
BEWET, be-wet', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to wet or moisten.
BEWIG, be-wig', to cover with a wig.--_p.adj._ BEWIGGED'.
BEWILDER, be-wil'd[.e]r, _v.t._ to perplex or lead astray.--_p.adj._
BEWIL'DERED, lost, confused in mind, trackless.--_adj._
BEWIL'DERING.--_adv._ BEWIL'DERINGLY.--_n._ BEWIL'DERMENT, confusion,
mental confusion: perplexity. [Pfx. _be-_, and prov. Eng. _wildern_, a
wilderness.]
BEWITCH, be-wich', _v.t._ to affect by witchcraft (mostly malignantly): to
fascinate or charm.--_ns._ BEWITCH'ERY, BEWITCH'MENT.--_adj._ BEWITCH'ING,
charming, enchanting.--_adv._ BEWITCH'INGLY.
BEWRAY, be-r[=a]', _v.t._ (_B._) to accuse: to point out: to betray or
divulge unintentionally. [M. E. _bewreien_, _be-_, and A.S. _wrégan_, to
accuse.]
BEY, b[=a], _n._ a Turkish governor of a town or province. [Turk. _beg_,
pronounced _b[=a]_, a governor.]
BEYOND, be-yond', _prep._ on the farther side of: farther onward than: out
of reach of: past in time: above, superior to.--BEYOND MEASURE,
excessively; BEYOND SEAS, abroad; THE BACK OF BEYOND (_De Quincey_, &c.), a
humorous phrase for any place a great way off; TO BE BEYOND ONE, to pass
his comprehension; TO GO BEYOND, to surpass: to circumvent: (_B._, _Shak._)
to overreach. [A.S. _begeondan_--pfx. _be-_, and _geond_, across, beyond.
See YON.]
BEZANT, be-zant', or bez'ant, _n._ a gold coin, first struck at _Byzantium_
or Constantinople: (_her._) a small circle or, like a gold coin.
BEZEL, bez'l, _n._ the part of the setting of a precious stone which
encloses it: the oblique side or face of a cut gem: the grooved flange or
rim in which a watch-glass is set: the slope at the edge of a chisel or
plane (usually BAS'IL). [From an O. Fr. word represented by mod. Fr.
_biseau_; its ult. origin uncertain.]
BEZIQUE, be-z[=e]k', _n._ a game at cards for two, three, or four persons,
played with two to four packs, from which cards with from two to six pips
have been removed. The name _Bezique_ itself is applied to the combination
of the knave of diamonds and queen of spades. [Fr. _besigue_, of obscure
origin.]
BEZOAR, b[=e]'z[=o]r, _n._ a stony concretion found in the stomachs of
goats, antelopes, llamas, chamois, &c., formerly esteemed an antidote to
all poisons. [Through Sp. _bezaar_ and Ar. _b[=a]zahr_, from Pers.
_p[=a]d-zahr_, counter-poison, _zahr_, poison.]
BEZONIAN, be-z[=o]'ni-an, _n._ (_Shak._) a beggar, a low fellow. [It.
_bisogno_; Sp. _bisoño_, Fr. _bisogne_.]
BEZZLE, bez'l, _v.i._ (_obs._) to drink hard: to squander:--_pr.p._
bezz'ling; _pa.p._ bezz'led. [O. Fr. _besiler_. See EMBEZZLE.]
BHANG, bang, _n._ the native name for the Indian preparation of hemp which
is smoked or swallowed for its narcotic and intoxicating qualities--in
Arabic known as _hashish_. [See ASSASSIN. Hind. _bh[=a]ng_; Pers. _bang_;
Sans. _bhang[=a]_.]
BIAS, b[=i]'as, _n._ a bulge or greater weight on one side of a bowl (in
the game of bowling), making it slope or turn to one side: a slant or
leaning to one side: a one-sided inclination of the mind, prejudice: any
special influence that sways the mind.--_v.t._ to cause to turn to one
side: to prejudice or prepossess:--_pa.p._ b[=i]'ased or
b[=i]'assed.--_ns._ B[=I]'AS-DRAW'ING (_Shak._), a turn awry; B[=I]'ASING,
a bias or inclination to one side. [Fr. _biais_, of dubious origin; Diez
suggests L. _bifax_, _bifacem_, two-faced.]
BIAXAL, b[=i]-aks'al, _adj._ having two optic axes.--Also BIAXIAL. [L.
_bi-_, and AXIAL.]
BIB, bib, _n._ a cloth put under an infant's chin: a similar article of
dress for adults, worn over the breast or above the apron.--_v.t._ and
_v.i._ to drink, to tipple.--_adj._ B[=I]B[=A]'CIOUS.--_ns._ BIB[=A]'TION,
tippling; BIB'BER, a tippler: chiefly used in composition as (_B._)
wine-bibber. [M. E. _bibben_, most prob. from L. _bib-[)e]re_, to drink.]
BIB, bib, _n._ a fish of the same genus as the cod and haddock, also called
the _Pout_.
BIBBLE-BABBLE, bib'bl-bab'bl, _n._ (_Shak._) idle talk. [Reduplication of
BABBLE.]
BIBLE, b[=i]'bl, _n._ the sacred writings of the Christian Church,
consisting of the Old and New Testaments.--_adj._ BIB'LICAL, of or relating
to the Bible: scriptural.--_adv._ BIB'LICALLY.--_ns._ BIB'LICISM, biblical
doctrine, learning, or literature; BIB'LICIST, B[=I]B'LIST, one versed in
biblical learning: one who makes Scripture the sole rule of faith.
[Fr.--Low L. _biblia_, fem. sing., earlier neut. pl., from Gr. _ta biblia_,
lit. 'the books,' esp. the canonical books of Scripture, _biblion_, a book,
dim. of _biblos_, papyrus, paper.]
BIBLIOGRAPHY, bib-li-og'raf-i, _n._ the description or knowledge of books,
in regard to their authors, subjects, editions, and history.--_n._
BIBLIOG'RAPHER, one versed in bibliography or the history of books.--_adj._
BIBLIOGRAPH'IC. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, _graphia_, description.]
BIBLIOLATRY, bib-li-ol'at-ri, _n._ superstitious reverence for the
Bible.--_ns._ BIBLIOL'ATRIST, BIBLIOL'ATER, one given to bibliolatry. [Gr.
_biblion_, a book, _latreia_, worship.]
BIBLIOLOGY, bib-li-ol'[=o]-ji, _n._ an account of books: biblical
literature, or theology. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, _logos_, discourse.]
BIBLIOMANCY, bib'li-[=o]-man-si, _n._ divination by selecting passages of
the Bible at hazard, and drawing from them indications concerning future
events. [Gr. _biblion_, a book, _manteia_, divination.]
BIBLIOMANIA, bib-li-[=o]-m[=a]n'i-a, _n._ a mania for possessing _rare_ and
curious books.--_n._ BIBLIOM[=A]N'IAC, one who has a mania for possessing
_rare_ and curious books.--_adj._ BIBLIOMAN[=I]'ACAL. [Gr. _biblion_, a
book, and MANIA.]
BIBLIOPHILE, bib'li-[=o]-f[=i]l, _n._ a lover of books, esp. a collector of
_rare_ books. [Fr.--Gr. _biblion_, a book, _philos_, friend.]
BIBLIOPOLE, bib'li-[=o]-p[=o]l, _n._ a bookseller.--Also BIBLIOP'OLIST.
[Gr. _biblion_, a book, _p[=o]leein_, to sell.]
BIBULOUS, bib'[=u]-lus, _adj._ drinking or sucking in: spongy. [L.
_bibulus_--_bib-[)e]re_, to drink.]
BICAMERAL, b[=i]-kam'[.e]r-al, _adj._ having two chambers. [L. _bi-_,
twice, and _camera_, chamber.]
BICARBONATE, b[=i]-kär'bon-[=a]t, _n._ a carbonate or salt having two
equivalents of carbonic acid to one equivalent of base. [L. _bi-_, twice,
and CARBONATE.]