bestead

¹

[ bih-sted ]

verb (used with object)

, be·stead·ed, be·stead·ed or be·stead, be·stead·ing.

1. to help; assist; serve; avail.

bestead

²

[ bih-sted ]

adjective

1. Archaic. placed or situated, often unfavorably or in difficulty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bestead¹

First recorded in 1575–85; be- + stead

Origin of bestead²

1300–50; Middle English bisted, bistad, equivalent to bi be- + sted, variant of stad placed < Old Norse staddr, past participle of stethja to place, derivative of stathr place

Example Sentences

There was hardly to be found in all Southern Tennessee a more contented, shiftless, ill-bestead family than theirs.

From Project Gutenberg

She said presently: Habundia, thou seest I am hard bestead; give me some good rede thereto.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus, on all hands, I seemed to myself as sore bestead as ever man was, and on no side saw any hope of succour.

From Project Gutenberg

Then were they all three on foot, and ever they saw the hart afore them passing weary and hard bestead.

From Project Gutenberg

But Joseph and Hyrum were harder bestead than ever I have been; and bolder men to boot.

From Project Gutenberg