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

Though sore bestead lies Ontzlake, and he could, Right fain were he to save his livelihood.

From Accolon of Gaul with Other Poems by Cawein, Madison Julius

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

How little you bestead Or fill the fixéd mind with all your toys!

From The Golden Treasury Selected from the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language and arranged with Notes by Various

How little you bestead Or fill the fix�d mind with all your toys!

From The Golden Treasury Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language by Palgrave, Francis Turner

Downy pillow take thy head, Silken coverlet bestead, Sunshine help thy sleeping!

From Heads and Tales : or, Anecdotes and Stories of Quadrupeds and Other Beasts, Chiefly Connected with Incidents in the Histories of More or Less Distinguished Men. by White, Adam