beshrew
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Etymology
Origin of beshrew
First recorded in 1275–1325, beshrew is from the Middle English word beshrewen. See be-, shrew 1
Explanation
To beshrew is to invoke a curse on someone. Horrified at discovering an empty baking pan, you might yell, "Beshrew all of you who ate my brownies!" The verb beshrew is so old fashioned that you're most likely to discover it in a play or poem by Shakespeare, who used it frequently. When the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet says, "Beshrew your heart for sending me about, to catch my death with jaunting up and down!", what she means is "Curse you for making me run around so much!" Beshrew comes from shrew, an animal believed to have a poisonous bite.
Vocabulary lists containing beshrew
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 2
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"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 2
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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.
"And, beshrew me, that's enough for any man"; and the Lord of Haddon reverently crossed himself to show that the trial had had the approval of his conscience.
From Heiress of Haddon by William E. Doubleday
Chaucer has the verb shrew = to curse; the current verb is beshrew.
From Milton's Comus by William Bell
However, I have received fair treatment in this house, beshrew me but I have!
From Helmet of Navarre by Bertha Runkle
You try me, just you gimme a desert island, or even a pirut ship, a week, like the chance you got, an’ beshrew me, but any heartless jade would be mine!”
From The Lady and the Pirate Being the Plain Tale of a Diligent Pirate and a Fair Captive by Harry A. Mathes
But listen now: I have weightier matters; I have eggs on the spit, beshrew me else!
From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by William Black
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
