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besot

[bih-sot]
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verb (used with object), be·sot·ted, be·sot·ting.
  1. to intoxicate or stupefy with drink.
  2. to make stupid or foolish: The stories had besotted her mind with fear and superstition.
  3. to infatuate; obsess: Youth and beauty have a tendency to besot middle-aged men; charm and tenderness does it for women of all ages.
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Origin of besot

First recorded in 1575–85; be + sot
Related formsbe·sot·ting·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

nonplus, bemuse, flabbergast, astound, bewilder, dazzle, benumb, daze, rattle, blunt, shock, confuse, startle, confound, amaze, faze, numb, daunt, surprise, overwhelm

Examples from the Web for besot

Historical Examples

  • They've besot the house, and are a givin' lip to frighten folks.

    The Attache

    Thomas Chandler Haliburton

  • The Indian wished to exercise men's minds equally, and give them pleasure; the popes wished to besot men's minds.

  • Up at Fort Shurdan they had a ginmill where th' warryors cud go an' besot thimsilves with bottled beer an' dominoes.

    Mr. Dooley Says

    Finley Dunne

Word Origin and History for besot

v.

"affect with a foolish manifestation," 1570s, from be- + sot. Related: Besotted; besotting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper