beast
[ beest ]
/ bist /
noun
any nonhuman animal, especially a large, four-footed mammal.
the crude animal nature common to humans and the lower animals: Hunger brought out the beast in him.
a cruel, coarse, filthy, or otherwise beastlike person.
a live creature, as distinguished from a plant: What manner of beast is this?
the beast, the Antichrist. Rev. 13:18.
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Origin of beast
1175–1225; Middle English be(e)ste < Old French beste (French bête) < Latin bēstia
Related formsbeast·like, adjective
Synonym study
1. See animal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for beast
British Dictionary definitions for beast
beast
/ (biːst) /
noun
any animal other than man, esp a large wild quadruped
savage nature or characteristicsthe beast in man
a brutal, uncivilized, or filthy person
verb
(tr) military slang, slang, mainly British to punish or torture (someone) in a manner that involves excessive physical exercise
Word Origin for beast
C13: from Old French beste, from Latin bestia, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for beast
beast
c.1200, from Old French beste "animal, wild beast," figuratively "fool, idiot" (11c., Modern French bête), from Vulgar Latin *besta, from Latin bestia "beast, wild animal," of unknown origin. Used to translate Latin animal. Replaced Old English deor (see deer) as the generic word for "wild creature," only to be ousted 16c. by animal. Of persons felt to be animal-like in various senses from early 13c. Of the figure in the Christian apocalypse story from late 14c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper