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

"Where is the queen?" quoth Launcelot, "For I am sore bestead," "Have not such haste," said Dame Brisen, "The queen is now in bed."

From Songs and Satires by Masters, Edgar Lee

Little hast thou bestead, Save to perplex the head, And leave the Spirit dead.

From Playing With Fire by Barr, Amelia Edith Huddleston

I’m so bestead I’ve sewed that patch in wrong side up.

From Jessica, the Heiress by Raymond, Evelyn

And hard bestead was Sir Owen to shield himself from the smashing blows which rained upon him.

From King Arthur's Knights The Tales Re-told for Boys & Girls by Gilbert, Henry

Then let’s be merry in our God and King, That made us merry, being ill bestead.

From A Life of William Shakespeare with portraits and facsimiles by Lee, Sidney, Sir