/beset-meaning

/beset-meaning-etymology-synonym

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: bɪsɛt.

-) Etymology: from Old English besettan, analysed into be- (prefix for “around”, “on all sides”) + settan “to set”.

-) Preterite tense: beset. Preterite participle: beset.

-) Present participle: beseting.

-) It is dated from 1000.

-) Transitive: -) 1. To set (a thing) about with ornaments; to surround with accessories.

-) It is found only in preterite participle.

-) Synonym: to stud.

-) Translation: entourer, in French; rodear, in Spanish; circondare, in Italian. 

Though his cloaths were exceeding costly, and beset with jewels and precious stones, yet he is said never to have worn one suit twice, nor ever put on again a ring which he had once used.

The Historical Magazine, vol. 2… 1858

-) 2. (With plural subject: besetters) to set upon (a person or another animal) on all sides.

-) Synonyms for “beset”: to assail by stationing themselves round; to surround hostilely or annoyingly.

He broke through the band by whom he was beset, slaying two, and wounding several, and escaped safe to his Castle of Crichton.

Scott… Essay on Border Antiquities… 1814-1817

Constantly, on our way, we were beset by men, who wanted to guide us and act as intermediaries in trade.

T. Knox… Adventures… 1885

-) Metaphor: the subject: something incorporeal:

Even by daylight our way was beset by difficulties.

C. Hamilton… Men and manners in America… 1833

When I mention his weakness, I have allusion to a bizarre old-womanish superstition which beset him.

Poe… Three Sundays… 1841

… something of unsubstantiality and uncertainty had beset my hopes.

C. Bronte… Jane Eyre… 1847

… the ice formed rapidly on the deck, and covered the rigging, so much as to render it difficult to work either the brig or schooner; dangers beset us in every direction.

C. Wilkes… Voyage… 1849

… she had not a particle of the pride that beset her mother.

Ainsworth… Mervyn Clitheroe… 1858

-) 3. (With plural subject: besetters) to lay siege to (a public place); surround (a town) with armed forces in order to capture it, or so as to compel surrender.

-) Synonyms: to besiege, beleaguer.

… this rude host of natives of the mountains and the woods appeared in the vicinity of Dumbarton, besetting the town.

J. Glen… Castle of Dumbarton… 1847

-) 4. To occupy or block (a road, gate, or passage), so as to prevent any one from passing, or so as to surprise him.

Almost immediately after this victory, Don Lorenzo received notice that the fort of Anchediva was beset by 60 vessels belonging to the Moors and Malabars, well armed and manned with a number of resolute men under the command of a renegado.

R. Kerr… Voyages and Travels… 1824

I am but one man, and we must pass through these mountains that are beset with enemies.

A. Bray… The Talba… 1830

… a land thickly beset with treacherous, lurking foes and armed bands of outlying savages.

I. Scribner… Laconia… 1856

Two months afterwards, they beset her house with a guard, to prevent her from receiving any succour from friends or servants.

R. Chambers… Domestic annals… 1859-1861

-) 5. (With plural subject, but impersonal) to surround annoyingly (something or someone); to stand, lie, or be situated dangerously around.

The African coast from Morocco to the Senegal is singularly perilous, beset with numerous sandbanks, and without either port or shelter.

H. Murray… African continent… 1853

His ship, beset by ice, and sorely wounded, remained fixed and immovable for two years.

W. Abbot… American Merchant Ships… 1902

-) Words derived from “beset”: besetment, besetter, besetting.

 

/belittle-meaning

/belittle-meaning-etymology

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: bɪlɪt(ə)l or (American) bɪlɪd(ə)l.

-) Etymology: it is analysed into be- (prefix) + “little”.

-) It is dated from 1700.

-) Transitive: -) 1. (Scarcely documented) to make little or small in size, or to appear so; to diminish. 

-) 2. To treat, speak of, or think of (someone or something) contemptuously; to represent as of less value.

-) Synonyms for “belittle”: to depreciate, underrate, undervalue.

-) Antonyms of “belittle”: to overvalue, exaggerate, over-estimate (a thing); extol, enhance, exalt (a person).

-) Translation: déprécier, in French; menospreciar, in Spanish; sminuire, in Italian.

But why should she want to belittle a young girl like Rachel Ray,--a girl that her own daughters call their friend? I'll tell you why, mother. Because Rachel Ray was admired and they were not.

A. Trollope… Rachel Ray… 1863

His only relief was to belittle the importance of his loss.

H. Wilson… The Spenders… 1902

… in truth, I was more concerned with the comparison of myself to a restaurateur of the crude new city of New York, which might belittle rather than distinguish me, I suspected.

H. Wilson… Ruggles… 1915

… if they had been at all inclined to belittle the danger of their position, were made to realize it when thirty or more Navajos came flocking in from all quarters.

Bower… The Heritage… 1916

You sure enough belittle me, if you think you'd have a chance in a million of getting away from me!"

Bower… The Quirt… 1920

-) Words derived from the verb “belittle”: beˈlittling, beˈlittlement, belittler.

 

 

/behove-meaning

/behove-meaning-etymology

-) Verb.

-) Variant: behoove 

-) Pronunciation and accent: bɪhuːv, or bɪhəʊv.

-) Etymology: from Old English behofian “to need”, derived of behof “behoof”. Literally: ‘to be of behoof or use.’

-) Third-person singular simple present: she/he behoves (behooves). 

-) Preterite tense, preterite participle: behoved (behooved).

-) Present participle: behoving (behooving).

-) It is dated from 800.

-) Transitive: -) 1. To be in want of; to have need of (something)

-) This meaning is obsolete.

-) 2. (The subject: a clause; and the object, a person or another animal) to be on behoof of (someone); to be for the behoof of; to be advantageous, or profitable for (some one). Hence: to be necessary or advisable, as being profitable.

-) The impersonal pronoun “it” is used as a anticipatory subject of the clause, and pursuantly to this practice, the construction becomes quasi-impersonal.

-) Translation: il faut (faire quelque chose), car il est profitable, in French; yo tengo (tú tienes, ella tiene, etc.) que hacer cierta cosa, porque es provechosa, in Spanish; io ho (tu hai, etc.) da fare (qualcosa), per essere utile, in Italian.

… the harshness, and selfishness of my nature, my vanity, […] my pride and ambition, were for a time concealed from him whom it most behooved to know them.

M. Sherwood… The lady of the manor… 1825

These may be deemed the chief principles of the art of painting, which it behoves the student indispensably to acquire not only the knowledge but likewise the practice of.

Dictionary of the fine arts… 1826

Our debts, I grant, are very great, and therefore it the more behoves you, as a young man of principle and honour, to pay them off as speedily as possible.

Dickens… Barnaby Rudge… 1841

It was a circumstance […] unusual in such a place and hour; and, in our situation, it behoved us to proceed with some timidity.

R. Stevenson… The Master… 1889

I tell thee, lady, it behooves me much to know this secret.

W. Simms… Southward Ho… 1899

In places, the slope was almost precipitous, and it behooved him to be careful of the horses, which could not be replaced.

Bindloss… Winston of the Prairie… 1907

… as Endicott glanced right and left along the front, he discovered a personage at some little distance with whom it behooved him to hold a parley.

Hawthorne… Tales… 1921

-) The subject: a clause introduced by the conjunction “that”:

… it behoveth us that we arm ourselves, and demand of the Infantes what they have done with our ladies.

R. Southey… Chronicle of the Cid… 1809

-) The personal object is omitted:

… it behoves that ye should know whence he came, and from what men he was descended, because we have to proceed with his history.

R. Southey… Chronicle of the Cid… 1883

-) 3. Used only in Scotland: (the subject: somebody) to be in duty (to do something reputed as useful).

So that I behooved to come by some clothes of my own, and in the meanwhile to walk by the porter’s side, and put my hand on his arm as though we were a pair of friends.

R. Stevenson… Catriona… 1893

-) English words derived from “behoof”: unbehoving, behoveful, behooveful, behoving.

 

 

/beguile-meaning

/beguile-meaning-etymology

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: bɪgaɪl.

-) Etymology: it is analysable into be- (intensive prefix) + GUILE “deceit”.

-) Preterite tense: beguiled. Preterite participle: beguiled.

-) Present participle: beguiling.

-) It is dated from 1200.

-) Transitive: -) 1. To make (someone) the object of a guile; to cause (a person) to believe what is false, by means of words or otherwise.

-) Synonyms for “beguile”: to delude, deceive, cheat, impose on, trick.

-) Translation: ingannare, in Italian; engañar, in Spanish; tromper, in French.

… the wicked chief was enamoured of my mistress, and, I doubt not, beguiled her with feigned tales, saying that Queen Zalia was near her end.

Sara Coleridge… Phantasmion 1837

… every day he greeted her with the same fond smile, and beguiled her with the same hopeful talk.

M. Braddon… Charlotte's Inheritance… 1868

-) 2. To induce (any one) to do something, by guile.

-) With an infinitive, to signify the action to which the deluded is induced:

"In olden and ancient times the Laird of Clyth went over to Denmark, and, being at the court of Elsineur, counterfeited, by the help of a handsome person, and a fine elocution, the style and renown of the most prosperous gentleman in all Caithness, by which he beguiled a Prince of Copenhagen to give him his daughter in marriage.

J. Galt… The Entail… 1823

… this is not a spot to be alone with a youth of this graceless fellow's nature; even though he may have beguiled you to love him dearly.

P. Egan… Paul Jones… 1842

I have two — nay, three good reasons for going: first, that a beautiful young lady has already beguiled me to stay longer than I should; secondly, that a pleasant old gentleman might beguile me to stay still longer.

G. Payne… Leonora d'Orco… 1860

-) With the preposition “into” + a noun or gerund, which stand for the result:

… you must not beguile me into neglecting my duties.

J. Mackenzie… Private Life… 1829

… his voice [… become] really kind, for he wished to beguile her into good-humour, and he mumbled the last words with his lips touching her cheek.

J. Banim… The Denounced… 1830

[I] first beguiled her into mounting her pony one beautiful morning, to ride over the fields with Gerald, Miss Peterson, and me by her side.

S. Ellis… Pictures… 1837

[The counsellor] was trying to beguile her into criminating herself, for the sake of employing her evidence against the luckless admiral.

A. Strickland… Queens of England… 1851–1859

I beguiled her into talk.

E. Gaskell… The accursed race… 1855

-) With the prepositions “to” or “into” + the noun of the place where someone is enticed:

Helen did not suspect the secret purpose for which Mr. Mortimer had beguiled her to the Rectory.

J. Mackenzie… Private Life… 1830

It was into the reticulations of one of these nets that our talkative guide beguiled us.

J. Bullar… A Winter in the Azores… 1841

From the dance, he beguiled her to the garden, and she was pleased to be so beguiled.

W. Simms… Katharine Walton… 1851

-) 3. To dispossess (someone) of something by guile or by means of a trick. 

-) Synonyms: bereave, deprive, cheat out of.

-) With “of” or “out of” + the noun of the thing trickily obtained:

Supposing, very honestly, that a soldier was a likely person to inform him where he could most advantageously procure the article, he accosted one in the street, who conducted him to his own quarters, and there, having beguiled him out of five dollars on pretence of selling him a gun and equipments, set up a hue and cry, that there was a rebel purchasing king's arms of a king's soldier.

C. Snow… A History of Boston… 1828

… the plan of beguiling him of his money.

M. Griffith… Camperdown… 1836

-) Hence, metaphorically: to induce (someone) to something by means of a trick, as if by cheating out of it:

… we should rejoice if we could even beguile them of a smile.

E. Hook… Cousin Geoffrey… 1840

… Evelyn has linked herself to me, insensibly beguiled me of my love, and made me forget my own desolateness.

A. Mowatt… Evelyn… 1845

-) 4. To cause (somebody) to be heedless of something unpleasant or unsuitable, by means of a trick.

-) Synonym: to divert.

-) With the preposition “from”, or “of” + noun of what is unpleasant:

He had, originally, purposed visiting Mr. Tyrold before he set out, and conversing with him upon the state of danger in which he thought his daughter; but his tenderness for her feelings, during his last adieu, had beguiled him of this plan, lest it should prove painful, injurious, or inauspicious to her own views or designs in breaking to her friends their breach.

F. Burney… Camilla… 1796

Betha beguiled him from his usual sad pensiveness, to take an interest in the various employments exhibited in rural life.

J. Porter, A. Porter... Coming out… 1828

I sat and listened as long as I could to the efforts my companion made to beguile me of my uneasiness.

Mrs. Farren… Boston Common… 1857

… when I mentioned the thing to Solon, thinking to beguile him from his trouble, I found him more interested than I had thought he could be…

H. Wilson… The Boss of Little Arcady… 1905

-) 5. To cause (someone) not to be bored, by means of a funny trick. Hence, (metaphor) to cause (something) not to be tedious, as if by a trick.

-) Synonyms: to while away, amuse.

We got under way with a mere breath of wind, and for many days stood along the eastern coast of Java, without any other incident to beguile the monotony of our course than the occasional meeting with some of the small grabs of the Archipelago to which we were bound.

Poe… MS. Found in a Bottle… 1833

Beside the provisions lay the flute, whose notes had lately been called forth by the lonely watcher to beguile a tedious hour.

T. Hardy… Far from the Madding Crowd… 1874

The long train was slackening speed and two whistles rang shrilly through the roar of wheels when Miss Barrington laid down the book with which she had beguiled her journey of fifteen hundred miles, and rose from her seat in a corner of the big first-class car.

H. Bindloss… Winston of the Prairie… 1907

-) Intransitive: to practice a beguilement; use a wile.

-) Words derived from “guile”: beguilement, beguiler, beguiling, beguilingly, beguileful, beguiled, guileful, guilefully, guilefulness, guileless, guilelessly, guilessness, unguileful.

 

/beget-meaning

/beget-meaning-etymology

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: bɪgɛt.

-) Etymology: from Middle English bigeten “to get, beget”, from AS. begitan “to get”, from be- + gitan.

-) Preterite tense: begot.

-) Preterite participle: begot, or begotten.

-) Present participle: begetting.

-) It is dated from the end of 1000.

-) Transitive: -) 1. Obsolete meaning: to get, to acquire (usually by effort). 

-) 2. (Of a male) to cause to exist (a child) by generation; to become the generator or the begetter of (a new being).

-) Synonyms for “beget”: to sire, father, engender.

-) Translation: engendrer, in French; engendrar, in Spanish; generare, in Italian.

-) With the preposition “on” (or upon, of) + noun of the female who conceives the child:

When men live in peace, they covet war, detesting quietness, deposing kings, […] murdering some men to beget children of their wives.

R. Burton… The Anatomy of Melancholy… 1621

… on whom he had begotten a son.

The Wiltshire archaeological… magazine… 1878

-) 3. Metaphor:

It is not the boastful sentiment begotten of champagne, or the defiant courage of port.

C. Lever… One of them… 1861

The wide circulation of the Magazine begets readers, and readers beget contributors.

J. Loudon… The magazine of natural history… 1829

-) Words derived from the verb BEGET: begetter, begetting.

 

 

/bed-en-español

/bed-en-español-meaning-etymology

-) Noun. 

-) Pronunciation: bɛd. 

-) Etymology: from Old English bedd, bed.

-) It is dated from the end of 900.

-) 1. An article of furniture to sleep, rest, play or to work upon it, as porno actors and prostitutes do. It consists for the most part of a sack or mattress, stuffed with something soft or springy, raised generally upon a ‘bed-stead’ or support, and covered with sheets, blankets, etc.

-) Synonym: couch. 

-) Translation: French lit; Spanish cama; Italian letto.

He was propped up in the bed by pillows. 

E. Poe… The facts… 1845

Again she was fucked on the bed.

Walter… My Secret Life… 1888

-) It occurs often in elliptical constructions in which “bed” is to be understood for “the situation or position of being in bed, sleeping in bed, etc.”

-) To go to bed: (a) to go to use the bed, specially to sleep. (b) Euphemism: to fuck (with someone).

I took pity on your tired servant and told him to go to bed, as he let me out. 

Wilde… Dorian Gray… 1890

-) To make a bed: to order a bed after it has been used. (Spanish: hacer la cama; Italian: fare il letto and French: faire le lit).

Your master's bed is made […] lock the chamber door. 

J. Swift… The works… 1731

After breakfast, my mother, who usually helped to make my bed and her own as well, called out to me.

Walter… My Secret Life… 1888

-) To make up a bed: to prepare sleeping accommodation not previously available.

[He] made him up a bed of straw in the waggon, under the waggon-house.  

The Annual Register… 1758

-) Prepositional phrases with “bed”: in, to, into, out of bed.

… he had not retired to bed during the whole of the preceding night. 

E. Poe… The Assignation… 1834

It was, especially, upon retiring to bed late in the night of the seventh or eighth day after the placing of the lady Madeline within the donjon, that I experienced the full power of such feelings. 

E. Poe… The Fall… 1839

I knew my victim's habit of reading in bed. 

E. Poe… The Imp… 1845

I got out of bed and stood looking at her thighs and cunt.

Walter… My Secret Life… 1888

I'm going to get into bed.

Walter… My Secret Life… 1888

-) 2. Metaphor: the surface or something considered as a base on which anything is. In particular: -) a. A level or smooth piece of ground in a garden, usually somewhat raised, for the better cultivation of the plants. -) b. The bottom of a lake or sea, or of the channel of a river or stream. -) c. The surface of a stone or brick which is embedded in the mortar; the under side of a slate. -) d. A layer or bed-like mass; a stratum; a horizontal course.

We are below the river's bed. 

E. Poe… The cask… 1846

The margin of the river, and of the many dazzling rivulets that glided through devious ways into its channel, as well as the spaces that extended from the margins away down into the depths of the streams until they reached the bed of pebbles at the bottom. 

E. Poe… Eleonora… 1842

-) Words derived from “bed”: embed; bed (verb); bedding; beddable; bedder; bedful; bedgown; bed-post; bedside; bed-sitting-room; bedspread; bedridden, bedridden; bedstead; bedchamber, bed-clothes, bedfellow, bed-fellowship; bedroom, bedtime; abed.

 

 

/banter-meaning

/banter-meaning-etymology-synonyms

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: bæntə(r).

-) Etymology: of uncertain origin. It is doubtful whether the verb or the noun was the earlier.

-) It is dated from the end of 1600.

-) Transitive: -) 1. To treat (a person) jocularly; to address (some one) in such a manner as to expect in reaction either a smile or a laughter; to ridicule without intention of offending the banteree; to address a playful ridicule to (a person).

-) Synonyms: to mock at (some one), quiz, chaff, rally, jeer.

-) Translation: embromar, in Spanish; burlare, in Italian; plaisanter (quelqu’un), in French.

He was an inexperienced hunter and a poor shot, for which he was much bantered by his more adroit comrades. 

Washington Irving… Astoria 1836

It was an imperfect instrument, something between a flute and a clarionet […].  An islander informed me that it was the only sort of musical instrument which the Northern tribes possessed, and that it was played upon by the young men only when they were /in love/.  I suspected at first that he was bantering me, but I afterwards found that what he said was true.

F. Marryat… Diary in America… 1839

-) Reciprocally:

He was constantly surrounded on such occasions by buffoons selected, for the most part, from among the vilest pettifoggers who practised before him. These men bantered and abused each other for his entertainment.

T. Macaulay… The history of England… 1848

The other Cavaliers whooped and laughed in the […] jest, pushing and bantering each other as they hurried on in full pursuit of the rapidly retreating chase.

G. Melville… Holmby House… 1860

-) With the prepositions “for”, “on” or “upon” + a noun or a gerund, which are designative either of the cause or of the subject of the banter:

“I wish,” said Miss Trevannion to her friend, “that you would cease bantering me upon that subject.”

W. Scargill… Tales of a briefless barrister… 1829

The cunning old Indian followed him to and fro, holding out a sea-otter skin to him at every turn, and pestering him to trade. Finding other means unavailing, he suddenly changed his tone, and began to jeer and banter him upon the mean prices he offered. This was too much for the patience of the captain, who was never remarkable for relishing a joke, especially when at his own expense. Turning suddenly upon his persecutor, he snatched the proffered otter-skin from his hands, rubbed it in his face… 

Irving… Astoria… 1836

… encountering Mr Nadgett in the outer room, he bantered that stealthy gentleman on always appearing anxious to avoid him, and inquired if he were afraid of him.

Dickens… Martin… 1844

Others of Goldsmith's friends entertained similar ideas with respect to his fitness for the task, and they were apt now and then to banter him on the subject, and to amuse themselves with his easy credulity.

W. Irving… Oliver Goldsmith… 1849

"Being with a party at Versailles, viewing the waterworks, a question [… followed] among the gentlemen present, whether the distance from whence they stood to one of the little islands was within the compass of a leap. Goldsmith maintained the affirmative; but, being bantered on the subject, and remembering his former prowess as a youth, attempted the leap, but, falling short, descended into the water, to the great amusement of the company."

W. Irving… Oliver Goldsmith… 1849

I soon reached the place of rendezvous, and was greeted by the merry voices of my companions, who were already seated on the coach, which was to convey us to our place of destination. They bantered me upon my dilatoriness.

A. Crowquill… A bundle… 1854

None of my acquaintances knew what I was doing with my money, and often bantered me for not joining in their revels as I was wont.

W. Chambers… Chambers’s journal, vol. 24… 1854

… William, in a good-humored tone, bantered them for the want of firmness.

W. Carleton… Jane Sinclair… 1881

Kitty bantered me a good deal on my silence throughout the remainder of the ride.

R. Kipling… Indian Tales… 1885

… he dictated a letter, in which, evidently […] to conceal the full extent of his misfortune, he bantered her on having recently advised him to beware of cold. "You ought," said he, "rather to have warned me to beware of heat."

R. Davenport… Peril and suffering… 1900

-) With the preposition “about” + noun or a gerund designative either of the cause or of the subject of the banter:

Winston knew the man, and was about to urge the horse forward, but, in place of it, drew bridle, and laughed with a feeling that was wholly new to him as he remembered that his neighbors now and then bantered him about his English, and that Courthorne only used the Western colloquialism when it suited him.

H. Bindloss… Winston… 1907

… we bantered each other about our ages, each claiming to be older than the other.

W. Howells… Seven English Cities… 1909

-) With the preposition “with” + a noun or a gerund designative of what is said jocularly:

… the very children in the streets bantered him with the title of “The Adelantado of the Seven Cities.”

Bentley’s miscellany… 1839

For some time after his return from Paris, he exhibited an unwonted degree of […] communicativeness, and we frequently bantered him with having become half a Frenchman.

M. Muir… Heroes… 1883

-) Reflexively:

The poet was fond of smoking his pipe, and banters himself as being no hero in cavalry.

Hardinge… 1817

Mr Dennis appeared to think it an uncommon circumstance, and to banter himself upon it.

Dickens… Barnaby Rudge… 1841

-) To banter (someone) out of: to dissuade (a person) from something by bantering him. 

Wrung as I was to the heart, I was ashamed of having it supposed that the loss of my hundred guineas in the least affected me. Belmont insisted that I should sup with him, and when I attempted to decline his invitation, bantered me out of my refusal, by asking if I had parted with my hundred guineas to purchase the spleen.

T. Holcroft… Hugh Trevor… 1794

[Captain Everard is bantering:] “You have described me exactly,” said he, bowing; “your insight into character is wonderful; you ought to write fashionable and domestic novels.”

But Edith was not to be bantered out of her severity.

M. Smedley… The maiden aunt… 1849

He consulted Bob Lee about it, and got only a bantering answer and a hint about the note of hand. Giles was not to be bantered out of his belief, but laid the case before sundry of his acquaintance, who were notorious for their credulity in all marvellous affairs.

T. Haliburton… Traits of American humor… 1852

-) To banter (someone) into something: to persuade (a person) into something by bantering him:

Your young female friends should never be allowed to tease or banter you into the betrayal of this secret.

J. Farrar… The young lady’s friend… 1837

Golopin […] has great faith in his flute, and generally carries it about with him. At Casserole’s restaurant in the Haymarket, one evening, having a violent dispute with Klitzer, […], who had bantered him into a state of frenzy, he positively struck that big instrumentalist in the face, though he had to jump at least a foot in the air to do so.

G. Sala… Gaslight and Daylight… 1859

Even after a day of heavy toil at log-rolling, the young men and boys bantered one another into foot races, wrestling matches, shooting contests, and other feats of strength or skill.

F. Ogg… The Old Northwest… 1919

-) 2. (Now archaic): to delude (someone) by bantering him. 

Miss Bertram was in the breakfast-parlour when Sampson shuffled in, his face all radiant with smiles--a circumstance so uncommon that Lucy's first idea was that somebody had been bantering him with an imposition.

W. Scott… Guy Mannering… 1815

-) 3. To incite banteringly (a person) to do something. More usually: to incite to compete ludicrously for winning something (as, a bet, a race, etc.)

-) Antonym: to dissuade.

-) Synonym: to challenge.

-) With the preposition “for” + a noun designative of what is incited:

I was thinking of walking out into the country, and bantering somebody for a foot-race.

W. Caruthers… The Kentuckian in New-York… 1834

Shortly after leaving the Williams ranch next morning, I met a crowd of Chickasaw indians who bantered me for a horse race.

C. Siringo… A Texas Cow Boy… 1885

We were traveling through a thick, heavy wood, when we met a sewing-machine agent. I saw at once that he was driving an animal that exactly matched the one we brought from Chicago.

I bantered him for a trade.

He stopped, and after looking over the horse I had just bought, said he'd trade for seventy-five dollars.

"I'll give you fifty dollars."

J. Johnston… Twenty Years… 1902

-) With an infinitive designative of what is incited:

I feel his little […] hands over my eyes, and hear a child’s voice bantering me to guess his name.

D. Hill… The Land… 1866-1869

When our boats started for shore, the divers followed us quite a distance, bantering us to throw coins into the water.

E. Howe… The trip to the West Indies… 1910

I began an immediate search for a buyer for my horses and carriage, but without success, till one day an old gentleman bantered me to trade the entire outfit for a yoke of oxen and a two-wheeled cart, and was somewhat surprised when I showed my readiness to "swap" for five hundred dollars to boot.

J. Johnston… Twenty Years… 1902

-) Intransitive: to use a banter; to behave as a banterer.

-) Synonyms: to joke, jest, pleasant.

"Are you bantering, or are you in earnest?" cries the father, with a most solemn voice.

H. Fielding… The History of Tom Jones… 1749

All at once his pretty, pleasant hostess, with whom he had been glad enough to banter, and with whom even he had been ready to enter upon a mild and innocent flirtation, became horrible and hateful to him.

Lovett Cameron... Vera Nevill… 1887

Their laughter was noisy, their banter of one another and of Winona was continuous, and Winona laughed, even bantered. That she should banter strangers in a public place! She felt rowdy, but liked it.

H. Wilson… The Wrong Twin… 1921

-) With the preposition “with” + a noun of the person who reciprocates a joke or noun of the banteree:

Old Germans talked over their beer pots, and puffed at their pipes; young ones laughed and bantered with the servant girls.

F. Parkman… Vassall Morton… 1856

-) English words derived from the verb “banter”: banter (noun), banteree, banterer, bantering, banteringly, bantery.