bethink
Americanverb (used with object)
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bethinks,
present (3rd person singular)
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bethought,
past participle, past
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bethinking
present participle
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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)
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bethinks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
bethought,
past participle, past
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bethinking
present participle
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:
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
Now do you, my Friends, before reading farther, bethink you how a man was to extricate himself from such a plight, without losing head!
From Translations from the German (Vol 3 of 3) Tales by Musaeus, Tieck, Richter by Thomas Carlyle
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 A. Fraser Robertson
Then the doctor bethinks himself of ultraviolet rays.
From Time Magazine Archive
After languishing for a week or more in darkness and misery, Hopeful suddenly bethinks him of a key which he has in his bosom, a key that will unlock any door in the castle.
From In Jeopardy by Van Tassel Sutphen
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
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
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
But the Kuomintang high command had bethought itself; the Gimo had sent assurances that he stood for open competition.
From Time Magazine Archive
But Smith College bethought herself, or was reminded, of Poet Pierre's 400th birthday last week.
From Time Magazine Archive
After these practical matters had been attended to, Cleve bethought himself of form, and sent a telegram offering the fish to the Queen.
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
Yet he rallied himself, bethinking him, I fancy, that there were many spectators.
From The Story of Francis Cludde by Stanley John Weyman
She smiled right into Victor's face to such a degree that she knew no way of escape but by bethinking herself of his destined chamber, which she directed to be opened and shown to him.
From Hesperus or Forty-Five Dog-Post-Days Vol. I. A Biography by Jean Paul
Then, bethinking himself of the serious business which he had in hand, he picked it up and trotted off to a dry spot which he knew of, just on the fringe of the island.
From Hoof and Claw by Sir Charles George Douglas Roberts
"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
The intercessor would not be baffled, and, bethinking himself to appeal by the tenderness of birth and of death to the king, wrote four lines of verse which he left on the table.
From French Classics by William Cleaver Wilkinson
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