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bestay. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
bestay, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
bestay in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
bestay you have here. The definition of the word
bestay will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
bestay, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From be- + stay, from Middle English *stayen, steyen, from Old French estaier, estayer (“to prop, stay, support”), from estaye (“prop, support”), of Proto-Germanic origin. More at stay.
Verb
bestay (third-person singular simple present bestays, present participle bestaying, simple past and past participle bestayed)
- (transitive) To secure or steady; cause to come to a fixed position or state; bring to a halt or stop.
1834, Theodore Sedwick Fay, George Pope Morris, Samuel Woodworth, New-York mirror:Mid the half-furrowed field bestay the plough, Bid the twin toilers of the yoke go free, And aught that doth thee patient servitude, From closing sabbath to its blest return, [...]
1874, Great Britain. Public Record Office, Calendar of state papers, foreign series, of the reign of Elizabeth:Hereupon the magistrates of the town cried "Hola, hola, bestay the matter."
1940, Thornwell Jacobs, Red lanterns on St. Michael's:Bestay thee, bestay thee in fighting!
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