bethink
Americanverb (used with object)
-
bethinks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bethought,
past participle, past
-
bethinking
present participle
-
to think; consider (used reflexively).
He bethought himself a moment.
-
to remind (oneself ).
to bethink oneself of family obligations.
-
to remember; recall (used reflexively).
She lives in the past now, bethinking herself of happier days.
-
to determine; resolve.
Under the circumstances I could not otherwise bethink me.
-
Archaic. to bear in mind; remember.
verb (used without object)
-
bethinks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bethought,
past participle, past
-
bethinking
present participle
verb
-
to cause (oneself) to consider or meditate
-
to remind (oneself)
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
bethinksimple
-
bethinkssimple
-
have bethoughtperfect
-
has bethoughtperfect
-
am bethinkingprogressive
-
are bethinkingprogressive
-
is bethinkingprogressive
-
have been bethinkingperfect progressive
-
has been bethinkingperfect progressive
Past
-
bethoughtsimple
-
had bethoughtperfect
-
was bethinkingprogressive
-
were bethinkingprogressive
-
had been bethinkingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bethink
before 1000; Middle English bethenken, Old English bethencan. See be-, think 1
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:
Yet many readers will bethink themselves of many Cynthias and wonder if it is too late, or just timely, to pass the book along.
From Time Magazine Archive
When a New Englander needs an image for swarming bees he may not bethink him of showered stars, yet sparks from a Fourth of July pinwheel are quite as effective and wholly permissible.
From Time Magazine Archive
But the head of the French department did not bethink himself in time to procure a bust of Ronsard to be duly "crowned," during the ceremony.
From Time Magazine Archive
I will go to him at once, Ella," he said; "and before my return you had better bethink you of what course you will pursue, in case your kinsman should not be with the Count.
From Agincourt The Works of G. P. R. James, Volume XX by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James
We bethink a means to break it off.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster
Then the doctor bethinks himself of ultraviolet rays.
From Time Magazine Archive
The president bethinks himself of a "patriot" architect, Citizen Palloy, who generally makes his appearance whenever there are "patriotic" demolitions to be accomplished.
From Marie Antoinette and the Downfall of Royalty by Arthur Léon, baron Imbert de Saint-Amand
Thus, struck down in the hour of his pride and passion, Euphues becomes "a changed man," and bethinks himself of his soul, which he has so long neglected.
From John Lyly by John Dover Wilson
So when an untaught and uncorrupted mind looks upon a new scene and bethinks itself of a name to fit it, the name is almost certainly full of charm or rugged power.
From The Little Manx Nation - 1891 by Sir Hall Caine
When the Newmarket Houghton meeting is over, Mr. Bookmaker bethinks him of billiards, and he goes daily and nightly among interesting gatherings of his brotherhood.
From Side Lights by Grant Allen
In his Discourse on Inequality, he lamented "the first man who, having enclosed a piece of ground, bethought himself of saying, 'This is mine,' and found people simple enough to believe him."
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2017
Thus faced with a well-nigh desperate situation, Belgian royalty bethought itself of royal nieces.
From Time Magazine Archive
The line was that Britain, at least, had bethought herself, after hearing and acceding to Joseph Stalin's blunt demand for land action on the Invasion Coast.
From Time Magazine Archive
But Smith College bethought herself, or was reminded, of Poet Pierre's 400th birthday last week.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Now. All night, I lay and I bethought myself—how to leave so I won’t be forgot? And behold.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
In their rhythm too is this increasing velocity, this catching of the breath and this return to the starting-point, this bethinking itself of gravity when it returns to the earth.
From ?mile Verhaeren by Stefan Zweig
Then bethinking him of his French, he added, with dignity, "Welcome to Miaw-lins—Miaw-lins-lay-Tower."
From Dorothy and other Italian Stories by Constance Fenimore Woolson
“How much would you be inclined to give?” asked the lessee, bethinking him of a compromise.
From The Child Wife by Mayne Reid
"We once staid here for a month, noble sir; and, as to bethinking me of what I shall do, I have bethought me already, but will not stay you to speak about it now."
From Agincourt The Works of G. P. R. James, Volume XX by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James
Madame," I said, "last night, as I lay in my bed, bethinking me of the morrow, and wondering what it held in store for me, I heard the sound of a woman weeping.
From The Courtship of Morrice Buckler A Romance by A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley) Mason
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.
