bethink
Americanverb (used with object)
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to think; consider (used reflexively).
He bethought himself a moment.
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to remind (oneself ).
to bethink oneself of family obligations.
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to remember; recall (used reflexively).
She lives in the past now, bethinking herself of happier days.
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to determine; resolve.
Under the circumstances I could not otherwise bethink me.
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Archaic. to bear in mind; remember.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to cause (oneself) to consider or meditate
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to remind (oneself)
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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bethinksimple
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bethinkssimple
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have bethoughtperfect
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has bethoughtperfect
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am bethinkingprogressive
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are bethinkingprogressive
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is bethinkingprogressive
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have been bethinkingperfect progressive
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has been bethinkingperfect progressive
Past
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bethoughtsimple
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had bethoughtperfect
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was bethinkingprogressive
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were bethinkingprogressive
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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:
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
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 his father could not keep him, and he was driven to look about and bethink himself how he could keep himself.
From The Boyhood of Great Inventors by Robertson, A. Fraser
But bethink you that poor Frank Lloyd was not likely to have the means of purchasing thee such a pretty toy, much as he would like to please his old friend.
From Judith Shakespeare Her love affairs and other adventures by Black, William
Then the doctor bethinks himself of ultraviolet rays.
From Time Magazine Archive
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 Wilson, John Dover
And he bethinks himself,—does it lie somewhere under the harsh and dogmatic utterances of the Ashfield pulpit?
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 104, June, 1866 by Various
Then Denise bethinks herself of some homely household duties.
From Floyd Grandon's Honor by Douglas, Amanda Minnie
The performer announces that he is about to cut them all up, but before commencing to do so bethinks himself of his own good handkerchief which he removes and places in his pocket.
From Peerless Prestidigitation Being a collection of entirely new ideas and effects in the fascinating art of modern magic by Caston, Herbert de
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
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 the Kuomintang high command had bethought itself; the Gimo had sent assurances that he stood for open competition.
From Time Magazine Archive
In his meditations he bethought him of the Hippocratic Oath which doctors swear.
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
And I, bethinking me that, in spite of his gloomy forecast, Lord Bolingbroke would none the less serve the King with unremitting vigour, began to take heart again, and so pardoned Leonard Ashlock.
From Lawrence Clavering by Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
While congratulating himself on the change of fortune, he was also bethinking him of what had led to it.
From The Child Wife by Reid, Mayne
At any rate, as though bethinking himself of something half forgotten, he changed his mind of a sudden.
From Dr. Grenfell's Parish The Deep Sea Fisherman by Duncan, Norman
"Oh, that was merely a side-issue,--only an after-piece," said Frau von Leskjewitsch, bethinking herself.
From Erlach Court by Schubin, Ossip
I rose to my feet, grasped it, and, suddenly bethinking myself for the first time, uncovered my head.
From The Life of Thomas Wanless, Peasant by Wilson, Alexander Johnstone
Definitions 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.
