bestead

¹ American  

[bih-sted] / bɪˈstɛd /

verb (used with object)

besteaded, besteaded, bestead, besteading

1. to help; assist; serve; avail.

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bestead ² American  

[bih-sted] / bɪˈstɛd /

adjective

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

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Etymology

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

Full straight art thou bestead   Among these foemen fell: Such sorrow for to see.

From "Everyman," with other interludes, including eight miracle plays by Rhys, Ernest

If I ain’t the worst bestead woman in the world!

From The Sun Maid A Story of Fort Dearborn by Raymond, Evelyn

Who is now hard bestead, but the lady?

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 355, May 1845 by Various

Sir Gernot," said Rudeger ill bestead, "That you were safe in Rhineland, and I with honor dead!

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

And then they all three left Sir Kay, for it was he who was so hard bestead, and turned unto Sir Launcelot.

From Stories of King Arthur and His Knights Retold from Malory's "Morte dArthur" by Cutler, U. Waldo