Middle English Dictionary Entry
bisitten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | bisitten v. P. besæt, besat, besāte. |
| Etymology | OE besittan besiege; in sense 2, from ME sitten befit (a Gallicism). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bisetten.
1.
(a) To besiege (a stronghold); (b) to beset, harass, afflict (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1102 : Se cyng ferde and besæt þone castel æt Arundel.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1135 : Balduin..held Execestre agenes him, & te king it be sæt.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1140 : He be sæt heom til hi aiauen up here castles.
b
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.110 : Ȝif he fynde such defaute þat ȝe with Fals holden, Hit schal bi-sitten [vrr. sitt, be set on, be-set; B: bisitte] oure soules sore atte laste.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.361 : I[t] shal bisitten vs ful soure, þe siluer þat we kepen.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)24 : Þe goode aungel coueytyth euermore mans saluacion, & þe badde bysytyth hem euere to hys dampnacion.
2.
To accord with (wisdom, generosity); be becoming to or proper for (sb.).
Associated quotations
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)73 : This..bisittith not his wisdom.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)124 : Þat be sitith þe kynges..liberalite.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)136 : It be sate the kynges magnyficence to make thair rewardes euerlastynge in thair heyres..it be satte not is magnificence to haue done in oþer wyse.
3.
See quot.
Associated quotations
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)27 : Besyttyn or dysposyn: Dispono.