betake
Americanverb (used with object)
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to cause to go (usually used reflexively).
She betook herself to town.
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Archaic. to resort or have recourse to.
verb
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to go; move
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archaic to apply (oneself) to
Etymology
Origin of betake
First recorded in 1175–1225, betake is from the Middle English word bitaken. See be-, take
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.
See Examples For:
"And it is here that I must betake me to my Lord Don Quixote in order that I may learn of him how to confront ridicule and overcome it."
From Time Magazine Archive
Gradually the household betake themselves to bed and Authoress Dix reviews them as they lie, wrapped in their several irremediable miseries.
From Time Magazine Archive
Aving already ad bestselling olidays in Paris and Manhattan, Mrs. 'Arris as ardly anyplace else to betake erself to but the Ouse of Commons.
From Time Magazine Archive
Propaganda for return of the pre-machine modes of production is equivalent to preaching that man should do away with clothes, grow hair all over his body and betake himself to the forests.
From Time Magazine Archive
The ghosts of regiments alone remained, yet before these the veterans of England were at last compelled to flee, and betake themselves to the darkness for safety.
From The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2 by Joel Tyler Headley
Hither it was that Jerry Gullen had betaken himself with his family and the Canary, after the great eviction.
From A Child of the Jago by Arthur Morrison
Whereupon Miss Lambkin, with her head in the air, had betaken herself to Mrs. Upjohn.
From Concerning Sally by William John Hopkins
Their dialogue had ended along with their dressing; and they had betaken themselves to two separate occupations—both of which called for silence.
From The Child Wife by Mayne Reid
So saying, he sallied forth, pacing round the fortifications in quest of Oswald, where he learnt that he and Wulfhere had betaken themselves towards the valley.
From The Last of the Vikings by John Bowling
But on the appointment of Xenocrates to the chair of the Academy, Aristotle, the most eminent of Plato’s scholars, had betaken himself to another Gymnasium, called the Lyceum, which became the resort of the Peripatetics.
From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume II by John Dunlop
When conscience has extorted a confession, she returns him to his monastery and God, betaking herself to the Garden of Allah, gem of the desert, where their courtship began and her days will end.
From Time Magazine Archive
On my way home—remember, it was before eight o'clock—I met her betaking herself to what she calls "matins."
From The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 25, January 1893 An Illustrated Monthly by Various
So we divided, some going with me, some betaking themselves to their own way.
From The Gipsy (Vols I & II) A Tale by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James
Hereward, according to the legend, hearing that another attack was imminent, followed the example of Alfred the Great by betaking himself in disguise to Brandon to learn the King's designs.
From Highways and Byways in Cambridge and Ely by Edward Conybeare
And he talked something of betaking himself to the nearest hotel after we landed, and waiting for the next boat down the river.
From Pencil Sketches or, Outlines of Character and Manners by Eliza Leslie
The father found, of course, no gold covering the Michigan district where he eventually betook himself.
From Time Magazine Archive
From the Vatican, Mr. Levine betook himself the next day to a 15-minute audience with Benito Mussolini.
From Time Magazine Archive
Harry Bridges knotted-a brown-and-yellow necktie around his matchstick neck one day and betook himself to San Francisco's federal court.
From Time Magazine Archive
Mr. Chamberlain betook him to his residence in Morpeth Mansions.
From Time Magazine Archive
Alyce betook herself to the cottage door, ready to run from this horror.
From "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman
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