betake
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to cause to go (usually used reflexively).
She betook herself to town.
-
Archaic. to resort or have recourse to.
verb
-
to go; move
-
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:
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
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
"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
Christian promised to betake himself to other subjects; and the old man was composed.
From Tales From the 'Phantasus', etc. of Ludwig Tieck by Ludwig Tieck
Sally Dutton came by, returning from a stroll to which she had betaken herself on Belfield's arrival.
From Second String by Anthony Hope
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
During this dialogue, the officers had approached one of the five taverns, composing nearly a third part of the infant town, towards which the ill-looking strangers had betaken themselves.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 369, July 1846 by Various
I remembered that the first of January was a holy-day, and that every man in the colony had doubtless betaken himself to the nearest village.
From Further Experiences of an Irish R.M. by Martin Ross
Then the luncheon went on for two courses with only one waitress, for Maggie had betaken herself to her sure refuge, a flood of tears, and she returned only with the salad.
From Brenda's Ward A Sequel to 'Amy in Acadia' by Helen Leah Reed
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
From that day and hour Johnstone of Westerhall resigned his commission, and, betaking himself to private life, is said to have exhibited marks of genuine repentance.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 16 by Various
Obediently betaking herself to the dressing room, Jerry discovered Veronica in the act of changing her butterfly costume for a demure but very smart pleated frock of dark blue Georgette crêpe.
From Marjorie Dean High School Senior by Josephine Chase
When the three had arrived within a hundred yards of Mr. McGee's destination they separated, each betaking himself to his own lodging-house.
From The Canadian Portrait Gallery - Volumes 1 to 4 by John Charles Dent
Again betaking himself to Frankfort, the prioress, Catharina von Meerfeld, of the convent of White Ladies, harboured him and his family in despite of the authorities.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 4 "Finland" to "Fleury, Andre" by Various
No wonder then that Tcheng Loh betook his gangling, spidery self, last week, to the office of paunchy, sleepy-eyed French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand, his friend and frequent counselor.
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
Sam Sary sadly crawled away, had his head and eyebrows shaved, and betook himself to a Buddhist monastery.
From Time Magazine Archive
President Herriot, having worn himself out calling for order, put on his silk hat and betook his full-dressed self from the Chamber as a sign that the session was suspended.
From Time Magazine Archive
When at last she left you, you lapsed at once into deep reverie: you betook yourself slowly to pace the gallery.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
