beseem

American

[bih-seem] / bɪˈsim /

verb (used with object)

to be fit for or worthy of; become.

conduct that beseems a gentleman.

verb (used without object)

to be suitable or fitting.

beseem British

/ bɪˈsiːm /

verb

archaic to be suitable for; befit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

unbeseeming adjective

Etymology

Origin of beseem

First recorded in 1175–1225, beseem is from the Middle English word bisemen. See be-, seem

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Entertain them as I know thou canst; but ask them neither their names, nor whither they journey: that would not beseem thee.

From The Childhood of King Erik Menved An Historical Romance by Ingemann, Bernhard Severin

Surely 'twould ill beseem me ought from the stores to take.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

O soul, no angel for an hour might dream Of all the riches that I give to thee, The glory and the beauty that beseem The heritage of life that is in Me.

From Matelda and the Cloister of Hellfde Extracts from the Book of Matilda of Magdeburg by Magdeburg, Matilda of

"The better then doth it beseem both the place and me," he replied.

From A Century of English Essays An Anthology Ranging from Caxton to R. L. Stevenson & the Writers of Our Own Time by Rhys, Ernest

"Woe is me, lamentation and mourning beseem me better than marriage; I can no longer go to court as befits a queen; if once I was beautiful, my beauty has vanished long ago."

From Women of the Teutonic Nations Woman: In all ages and in all countries Vol. 8 (of 10) by Schoenfeld, Hermann

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023