/betray-meaning

/betray-meaning-etymology

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: bɪˈtreɪ. 

-) It is dated from the end of 1200.

-) Etymology: it is analysed into bi- (be-, intensive prefix) + trayen “betray”, from Old French traïr, from Latin tradĕre “to deliver, hand over”.

-) Transitive: -) 1. To deliver (a person or thing) into the power of an enemy, by treachery or perfidious conduct; to give up treacherously.

He entered into a correspondence with the Spaniards, betrayed the city to them for a sum of money, and engaged the whole garrison to desert with him to the Spanish service.

Hume… The History of England… 1688

… who was the only person upon earth who could have betrayed us to my father, because he alone was trusted with the secret of our intended marriage…

T… Smollett… The adventures… 1748

I answered his questions ingenuously, and, on his pledging his word of honour that he would not betray me to my guardians, I…

Quincey… Confessions… 1821

… he could scarce hope to betray the castle into the hands of the English without some aid within.

Aguilar… The Days of Bruce… 1871

Perhaps Jeremy had thought as he lay there dying and saw his store rifled, that he, Ilya, had betrayed the treasure.

Gorky… Three Men… 1902

-) 2. To prove faithless, treacherous or disloyal to (a person, a cause, etc.); to behave perfidiously with (someone). Less properly: to disappoint (someone), by a behavior contrary to his hope.

-) Translation: traicionar, in French; trahir, in Spanish; tradire, in Italian.

Had Gregory, the only man to whom I had confided my secret, betrayed his trust?

Bentley's Miscellany, vol. IX … 1841

The Beaver was placed by this communication in an embarrassing situation, for should he disclose what he had heard, he betrayed his friend…

Howe… Historical Collections… 1850

The most artful and insinuating promises were held out to him, to induce him to retract. Life and dignities were promised him, if he would consent to betray his cause.

J… Lord… A Modern History… 1874

-) 3. (Of something or someone) to cause (someone) to incur error or be in a inconvenient situation by false guidance; to lead into error or deceive, as if by treachery.

-) With the preposition “into” + noun or gerund standing for the error or the situation:

… though the warmth of my temper betrayed me into some unbecoming expressions…

Walpole… The Castle… 1764

A second thought shewed me the rashness of this scheme, and I wondered by what infirmity of mind I could be betrayed into a momentary approbation of it.

Brown… Wieland… 1798

He went to work very artfully, and if I had not been made a little distrustful by his over-acted civility, I might have been betrayed into telling him the whole state of the case.

S… Burney… Tales of fancy… 1820

He glanced at the door, as if he would like to escape from the victim he had betrayed into his power…

Hentz… Robert Graham… 1856

I again begged his pardon for being betrayed into interruptions.

Dickens… Three Ghost Stories… 1866

The difficulty he felt, prompted, or, rather, betrayed him into a most unworthy course, which altogether relaxed the check I had put upon myself.

Bentley's Miscellany, vol. IX… 1841

-) With the preposition “to” + noun standing for the error:

I fear I was betrayed to some lightness, for the awful eye of the parson […] was upon me in an instant, souring my incipient jest to the tristful severities of a funeral.

Lamb… The Works… 1820-1826

Others are betrayed to the same desertion of themselves by a contrary fallacy.

Johnson… The Rambler… 1825

He felt like one whom self-confidence had betrayed to the very edge of a precipice.

Reade… The Cloister… 1931

-) 4. (Of someone) to disclose by words and with breach of faith (that which should be kept secret or unrevealed); to reveal (a truth about one’s friend, or a patient, etc.), as if by treachery.

I want you to betray no secret, but I ask you for your advice.

Trollope… The Claverings… 1866

-) 5. (Of someone) to reveal or disclose unintentionally (something about oneself which one desired to keep secret, as one’s will, character, presence, etc.), as if by treachery of one’s prudence or intention.

… there was not the least chance of his being able to open it to effect his escape, without betraying himself by making a noise.

Dickens… A House to Let… 1858

… I nearly betrayed myself by a laugh…

Alcott… Little Women… 1868

… I had no desire at present to betray myself, and to let my comrades know the step I was contemplating

C… Dixon… Fifteen Hundred Miles… 1895

-) 6. (Of something) to indicate or show incidentally (what is not obvious, or what is concealed).

… leaning against a tree, and holding in his breath, lest the least noise should betray his presence, he remained motionless there, gazing upon what he beheld in mute admiration.

Bentley's Miscellany… 1841

“ Do you love him ?” For a moment or two Bessy remained silent, striving to arrange her words so that they should contain no falsehood, and yet betray no truth.

Trollope… Tales of all countries… 1861

It was a harsh answer, but the frown which accompanied it betrayed irresolution as well as anger. 

Veley… Mitchelhurst Place… 1884

A French clock on the mantel-piece, framed of brass and crystal, which betrayed its inner structure as the transparent sides of some insects betray their vital processes, struck ten with the mellow and lingering clangor of a distant cathedral bell.

Hay… The Bread-winners… 1901

Stealthily, walking on tip-toe and shading the candle lest it should betray their presence through the shutterless windows, they went first into the big dining-room.

A… Blackwood… The Empty House… 1906

-) Words derived from the verb “betray”: betrayal, betrayed, betrayer, betraying, unbetrayed, unbetraying.

 

 

/betimes-meaning

/betimes-meaning-etymology-synonyms

-) Adverb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: bɪtaɪmz.

-) Etymology: it is analysed into be- (for by) + TIME + -s (adverbial ending. Cf. beside, besides); that is, by the proper time. 

-) It is dated from 1300.

-) 1. At an early time or period; early in life.

… he should learn betimes to do every thing for himself…

H… Smith… Brambletye house… 1826

It is, or it is not, according to the nature of men, an advantage to be orphaned at an early age. Perhaps utter orphanage is rarely or never such: but to lose a father betimes profits a strong mind greatly.

Quincey… The Caesars… 1851

A sorrowful indifference to existence often pressed on me--a despairing resignation to reach betimes the end of all things earthly.

Bronte… Villette… 1853

-) 2. In particular: at an early time in the morning.

… in order to begin his favourite study betimes in the morning, he generally retired early to rest at night.

E… Hook… The Parson’s daughter… 1833

The next morning, Mr. Gudge was up betimes: for the dismissal of Sprouts compelled him to be very early at the office.

A… Smith… The struggles and adventures… 1846

I must be astir betimes; I have a great work to do to-morrow.

G… W… Melville… Holmby House… 1860

Betimes in the morning I was up and out.

Dickens… Great Expectations… 1861

-) 3. In good time; before it is late. 

-) Translation: tôt, in French; a tiempo, in Spanish; di buon'ora, in Italian.

 And yet, perhaps, if he knows it betimes, he may find some means of defeating this fine project.

H… Jones… The Scottish Chieftains… 1831

It was very lucky, indeed, that Overweg and I, with our people, kept well together in the foremost part of the train, for the natives, rushing suddenly out from their hiding-place upon the stragglers, laid hold of two camels, with which they immediately made good their retreat, their young riders, who a moment before had shown such courage, having betimes jumped off their animals and run away.

H… Barth… Travels and discoveries… 1857

-) 4. Soon, speedily, anon, forthwith.

 

 

/bestride-meaning

/bestride-meaning-etymology-synonyms

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: bɪstraɪd.

-) Preterite tense: bestrode (or, rarely, bestrid).

-) Preterite participle: bestridden (or, rarely, bestrid, bestrode).

-) Present participle: bestriding.

-) Etymology: from Old English bestrīden, from be- + strīden “to stride”.

-) It is dated from 1000.

-) Transitive: -) 1. To sit upon (an animated being) with the legs astride; to sit astride of (something).

-) Synonyms for “bestride”: to stride, straddle, overstride.

-) Translation: ahorcajarse sobre (alguien, algo), in Spanish; s’asseoir à califourchon sur (une chose, quelqu’un), enfourcher (un cheval), in French; inforcare, in Italian.

… Asinus himself galloped into view, at no great distance, urged to the unnatural gait by the impatient and brutal Weucha, who bestrode him.

Cooper… The Prairie… 1827

… he bestrode a goodly steed, well conditioned and well caparisoned…

Irving… Conquest of Granada… 1829

[Frederick] was never to be seen beyond the limits of his own domain, and, in this wide and social world, was utterly companionless - unless, indeed, that unnatural, impetuous, and fiery-colored horse, which he henceforward continually bestrode, had any mysterious right to the title of his friend.

Poe… Metzengerstein… 1832

Even now I seem to see the group of fishermen, with that old salt in the midst. One fellow sits on the counter, a second bestrides an oil- barrel, a third lolls at his length on a parcel of new cod-lines … 

Hawthorne… The Village Uncle… 1835

-) Metaphor: (the subject: an unanimated being) to be upon (something) with its extensions as if astride.

[Michael] turned upon him a countenance somewhat flushed, […] and bestridden by the spectacles.

Stevenson and L. Osbourne… The Wrong Box… 1889

-) 2. To stand over (a place) with the legs astride; to stand astride of.

-) Synonyms: to stride, straddle, bestraddle.

-) 3. Hardly documented: to stand over (an animated being) with the legs astride, in the manner of a vanquisher over a vanquished. 

-) 4. Hardly documented: to stride (a street, etc.); to walk with strides or long steps.

A huge misshapen hobgoblin used to bestride the house every evening with an immense pair of jack-boots

Irving… Goldsmith… 1849

-) English words derived from BESTRIDE: bestrider, bestriding.

-) English words linked to the etymology of “bestride”: astride, stride (noun, verb), strider, striding, stridingly, outstride, overstride.

 

 

/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.