bête

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word bête. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word bête, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say bête in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word bête you have here. The definition of the word bête will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofbête, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: bete, betë, Bete, and bète

French

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French beste, from Old French beste, probably partially borrowed from Classical Latin bēstia (“beast”), or less likely from an alternative Vulgar Latin bēsta (“animal”). Compare biche (probably from Old French bisse, itself from Vulgar Latin bīstia; compare Italian biscia).

Pronunciation

Noun

bête f (plural bêtes)

  1. beast, animal
    Synonym: animal
  2. (derogatory) fool
    Je pense qu’il est une bête !
    I think that he is a fool!

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Haitian Creole: bèt
  • → Dutch: bête
  • → Swedish: bet

Adjective

bête (plural bêtes)

  1. (offensive) stupid; inept (not very bright and lacking in judgement)
    Synonym: idiot
    • 1895, Lecture, page 285:
      Or, on ne trouve pas « vraiment beau ! » ce qui vous laisse indifférent, et ce qu’on trouve « vraiment bête ! » , on est bien près d’y renoncer.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
  2. silly; avoidable (which could have been easily averted)
  3. (Canada, informal) grumpy (having a bad character or in a bad mood; showing great displeasure in interacting with people)
    • 1999, Chrystine Brouillet, Les Fiancées de l'Enfer, →ISBN, page 69:
      Je dis ça, mais depuis quelques semaines elle est moins bête. Même avec moi
      I say that, but these last few weeks she hasn't been as nasty . Even with me.
Related terms

References

Further reading

Norman

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old French beste, from Latin bēstia.

Pronunciation

Noun

bête f (plural bêtes)

  1. (Jersey, Guernsey) beast, animal
    • 1903, Edgar MacCulloch, “Proverbs, Weather Sayings, etc.”, in Guernsey Folk Lore‎, page 542:
      I' va d'vànt ses bêtes.
      He is going before his team.

Adjective

bête m or f

  1. (Jersey) stupid
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia