See beseem in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
{
"derived": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"adjective"
],
"word": "beseemed"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"adjective",
"noun"
],
"word": "beseeming"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"word": "beseemingly"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"word": "beseemingness"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"rare"
],
"word": "beseemly"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"archaic"
],
"word": "misbeseem"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"obsolete"
],
"word": "misbeseeming"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"adjective",
"archaic"
],
"word": "unbeseeming"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"archaic"
],
"word": "unbeseemingly"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"obsolete",
"rare"
],
"word": "unbeseemly"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0",
"tags": [
"obsolete"
],
"word": "unbeseem"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "h₁epi"
},
"expansion": "PIE word\n *h₁epi",
"name": "PIE word"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*sem-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "bisemen",
"t": "to beseem"
},
"expansion": "Middle English bisemen (“to beseem”)",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "bysemen",
"otherforms": "1"
},
"expansion": "[and other forms]",
"name": "nb..."
},
{
"args": {
"1": "prefix"
},
"expansion": "prefix",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "transitive"
},
"expansion": "transitive",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "verb"
},
"expansion": "verb",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "figurative"
},
"expansion": "figurative",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "intensifier",
"2": "intensifying"
},
"expansion": "intensifying",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "non",
"3": "sœma",
"t": "to conform to; to befit, beseem"
},
"expansion": "Old Norse sœma (“to conform to; to befit, beseem”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "gem-pro",
"3": "*sōmijaną",
"t": "to fit; to unite"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Germanic *sōmijaną (“to fit; to unite”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*sem-",
"t": "one; whole"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; whole”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "be",
"3": "seem",
"pos1": "prefix with an intensifying sense"
},
"expansion": "be- (prefix with an intensifying sense) + seem",
"name": "prefix"
}
],
"etymology_text": "PIE word\n *h₁epi\nFrom Middle English bisemen (“to beseem”) [and other forms], from be-, bi- (prefix forming transitive verbs with a completive, figurative, or intensifying sense) + semen (“to seem; to be or see as appropriate; to be visible or apparent; to regard”). Semen is derived from Old Norse sœma (“to conform to; to befit, beseem”), from Proto-Germanic *sōmijaną (“to fit; to unite”), from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; whole”). The English word is analysable as be- (prefix with an intensifying sense) + seem.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "beseems",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "beseeming",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "beseemed",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "beseemed",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "beseem (third-person singular simple present beseems, present participle beseeming, simple past and past participle beseemed)",
"name": "en-verb"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ambitransitive",
"3": "archaic"
},
"expansion": "(transitive, intransitive, archaic)",
"name": "term-label"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"be‧seem"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"text": "This inn beseems well for a weary wayfarer.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 110, column 1:",
"text": "To ſay the truth, this fact was infamous, / And ill beſeeming any common man; / Much more a Knight, a Captaine, and a Leader.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 19, page 85:",
"text": "VVith that, her angels Face, vnſeene afore, / Like to the ruddie morne appeard in ſight, / Deawed with ſiluer drops, through ſweating ſore, / But ſomewhat redder, then beſeem'd aright, / Through toyleſome heate and labour of her weary fight.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1624 (first performance), John Fletcher, Rule a Wife and Have a Wife. A Comoedy. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Leonard Lichfield […], published 1640, →OCLC, Act I, scene [iii], page 8:",
"text": "Alt[ea]. Shee would faine marry. / 1. Tis a proper calling, / And well beſeemes her yeares, who would ſhe yoke with?",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1643 January 14, “To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty. The Humble Petition of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, from Their Meeting at Edinburgh, January 4, 1643 [Julian calendar].”, in The Humble Petition of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly to the Kings Majesty. […], Edinburgh: […] Evan Tyler, […], →OCLC, page 6:",
"text": "The Nationall Aſſembly of this Kirk, from which we have our Commiſſion, did promiſe in their thankſgiving for the many favours expreſſed in Your Majeſties Letter, their beſt endeavours to keep the people under their charge, in unity and peace, and in loyalty and obedience to Your Majeſtie and Your Laws, which we confeſſe is a duty well beſeeming the preachers of the Goſpel: […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1820, John Keats, “Isabella; or, The Pot of Basil. A Story from Boccaccio.”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, stanza XIX, page 58:",
"text": "Now they can no more hear thy ghittern's tune, / For venturing syllables that ill beseem / The quiet glooms of such a piteous theme.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1843, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], “The Broken Gittern”, in The Last of the Barons, volume I, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book I (The Adventures of Master Marmaduke Nevile), page 34:",
"text": "My good damsel, you are now, I think, out of danger; it would ill beseem you, so young and comely, to go further with one not old enough to be your protector, so, in God's name, depart quickly, […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1915 July, “Close-ups”, in Photoplay Magazine: The National Movie Publication, volume VIII, number 2, Chicago, Ill.: Photoplay Publishing, →OCLC, page 120:",
"text": "The girl is born pretty—and a rebel. […] The mouth, artfully carmined to allure, beseems the red door of a white sepulchre.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Generally with a qualifying word such as ill or well: to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)."
],
"id": "en-beseem-en-verb-sAjryKoY",
"links": [
[
"ill",
"ill#Adverb"
],
[
"well",
"well#Adverb"
],
[
"appear",
"appear"
],
[
"look",
"look#Verb"
],
[
"seem",
"seem"
],
[
"way",
"way#Noun"
]
],
"tags": [
"archaic",
"intransitive",
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "96 4",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "priličam",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "приличам"
},
{
"_dis1": "96 4",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "podobavam",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "подобавам"
},
{
"_dis1": "96 4",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "sich ziemen"
},
{
"_dis1": "96 4",
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "bisemen"
},
{
"_dis1": "96 4",
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "semen"
}
]
},
{
"antonyms": [
{
"tags": [
"archaic"
],
"word": "misbeseem"
},
{
"tags": [
"obsolete"
],
"word": "unbeseem"
}
],
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "22 78",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [
"Entries with incorrect language header",
"Entry maintenance"
],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "42 58",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English terms prefixed with be-",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "17 83",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Entries with translation boxes",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "19 81",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Pages with 1 entry",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "13 87",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Pages with entries",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "30 70",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "19 81",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Arabic translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "19 81",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 80",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with German Low German translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "20 80",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with German translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 79",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Gujarati translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "23 77",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Hindi translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 79",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Macedonian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "24 76",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Middle English translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "22 78",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Old Norse translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "21 79",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Urdu translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "It beseems you not to grumble thus.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii], page 114, column 2:",
"text": "Giue me their Bodyes, that I may beare them hence / And giue them Buriall, as beſeemes their worth.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act I]:",
"text": "VVell Mortimer, ile make thee rue thoſe vvords. / Beſeemes it thee to contradict thy King?",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC:",
"text": "Sad pauſe, and deepe regard beſeemes the ſage, / My part is youth and beates theſe from the ſtage.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1597, Richard Hooker, “Lessons Intermingled with Our Prayers”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book V, page 254:",
"text": "Should wee hereupon frame a rule that what forme of ſpeech or behauiour ſoeuer is fit for ſuters in a Princes Court, the ſame and no other beſeemeth vs in our prayers to Almightie God?",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1639, Thomas Fuller, “Henry of Champaigne Chosen King; the Noble Achievements and Victories of King Richard”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book III, page 127:",
"text": "King Richard ſeeking to put his courage out of doubt, brought his judgement into queſtion, being more prodigall of his perſon then beſeemed a Generall. One wound he received, but by loſing his bloud he found his ſpirits, and laid about him like a mad-man.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, pages 45–46, lines 833–836:",
"text": "[Nature] hath purvey'd / From all the Elements her choiceſt ſtore / To treat thee as beſeems, and as her Lord / VVith honour, only deign to ſit and eat.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter V, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 95:",
"text": "\"Lady,\" said Cedric, \"this beseems not; were further pledge necessary, I myself, offended, and justly offended, as I am, would yet gage my honour for the honour of Ivanhoe.[\"]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1842, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Legends of the Province House. I.—Howe’s Masquerade.”, in Twice-Told Tales, volume II, Boston, Mass.: James Munroe and Company, →OCLC, page 10:",
"text": "Trust me, sir, I have already laughed more than beseems my cloth, at your Homeric confabulation with yonder ragamuffin General of the rebels. One other such fit of merriment, and I must throw off my clerical wig and band.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1884, Robert Browning, “A Camel-driver”, in Ferishtah’s Fancies, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 61:",
"text": "Man acts as man must: God as God beseems.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Without any qualifying word: to be appropriate or creditable (for someone or something)."
],
"id": "en-beseem-en-verb-cs5NwNdH",
"links": [
[
"appropriate",
"appropriate"
],
[
"creditable",
"creditable"
]
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "become"
},
{
"word": "befit"
},
{
"word": "suit"
}
],
"tags": [
"archaic",
"intransitive",
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "inbaḡā",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "اِنْبَغَى"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "lāqa",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "لَاقَ"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "podobavam",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "подобавам"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"tags": [
"dated"
],
"word": "geziemen"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "sich ziemen"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"tags": [
"dated"
],
"word": "ziemen"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "grc",
"lang": "Ancient Greek",
"roman": "éoika",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "ἔοικα"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "grc",
"lang": "Ancient Greek",
"roman": "prépō",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "πρέπω"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "gu",
"lang": "Gujarati",
"roman": "sohvũ",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "સોહવું"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "hi",
"lang": "Hindi",
"roman": "śobhnā",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "शोभना"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "nds-de",
"lang": "Low German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"tags": [
"German-Low-German"
],
"word": "böhren"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "nds-de",
"lang": "Low German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"tags": [
"German-Low-German"
],
"word": "geböhren"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "dolikuva",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "доликува"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "prilega",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "прилега"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "bisemen"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "semen"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "non",
"lang": "Old Norse",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "byrja"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "non",
"lang": "Old Norse",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "sama"
},
{
"_dis1": "5 95",
"code": "ur",
"lang": "Urdu",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "شوبھنا"
}
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/bɪˈsiːm/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-beseem.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/61/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-beseem.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-beseem.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/61/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-beseem.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-beseem.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/bəˈsim/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-iːm"
}
],
"word": "beseem"
}
{
"categories": [
"English archaic terms",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English intransitive verbs",
"English lemmas",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Old Norse",
"English terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
"English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sem-",
"English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European word *h₁epi",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"English terms prefixed with be-",
"English transitive verbs",
"English verbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 1 entry",
"Pages with entries",
"Rhymes:English/iːm",
"Rhymes:English/iːm/2 syllables",
"Terms with Ancient Greek translations",
"Terms with Arabic translations",
"Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"Terms with German Low German translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Gujarati translations",
"Terms with Hindi translations",
"Terms with Macedonian translations",
"Terms with Middle English translations",
"Terms with Old Norse translations",
"Terms with Urdu translations"
],
"derived": [
{
"tags": [
"adjective"
],
"word": "beseemed"
},
{
"tags": [
"adjective",
"noun"
],
"word": "beseeming"
},
{
"word": "beseemingly"
},
{
"word": "beseemingness"
},
{
"tags": [
"rare"
],
"word": "beseemly"
},
{
"tags": [
"archaic"
],
"word": "misbeseem"
},
{
"tags": [
"obsolete"
],
"word": "misbeseeming"
},
{
"tags": [
"adjective",
"archaic"
],
"word": "unbeseeming"
},
{
"tags": [
"archaic"
],
"word": "unbeseemingly"
},
{
"tags": [
"obsolete",
"rare"
],
"word": "unbeseemly"
},
{
"tags": [
"obsolete"
],
"word": "unbeseem"
}
],
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "h₁epi"
},
"expansion": "PIE word\n *h₁epi",
"name": "PIE word"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*sem-"
},
"expansion": "",
"name": "root"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "bisemen",
"t": "to beseem"
},
"expansion": "Middle English bisemen (“to beseem”)",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "bysemen",
"otherforms": "1"
},
"expansion": "[and other forms]",
"name": "nb..."
},
{
"args": {
"1": "prefix"
},
"expansion": "prefix",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "transitive"
},
"expansion": "transitive",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "verb"
},
"expansion": "verb",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "figurative"
},
"expansion": "figurative",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "intensifier",
"2": "intensifying"
},
"expansion": "intensifying",
"name": "glossary"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "non",
"3": "sœma",
"t": "to conform to; to befit, beseem"
},
"expansion": "Old Norse sœma (“to conform to; to befit, beseem”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "gem-pro",
"3": "*sōmijaną",
"t": "to fit; to unite"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Germanic *sōmijaną (“to fit; to unite”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*sem-",
"t": "one; whole"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; whole”)",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "be",
"3": "seem",
"pos1": "prefix with an intensifying sense"
},
"expansion": "be- (prefix with an intensifying sense) + seem",
"name": "prefix"
}
],
"etymology_text": "PIE word\n *h₁epi\nFrom Middle English bisemen (“to beseem”) [and other forms], from be-, bi- (prefix forming transitive verbs with a completive, figurative, or intensifying sense) + semen (“to seem; to be or see as appropriate; to be visible or apparent; to regard”). Semen is derived from Old Norse sœma (“to conform to; to befit, beseem”), from Proto-Germanic *sōmijaną (“to fit; to unite”), from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; whole”). The English word is analysable as be- (prefix with an intensifying sense) + seem.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "beseems",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "beseeming",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "beseemed",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "beseemed",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "beseem (third-person singular simple present beseems, present participle beseeming, simple past and past participle beseemed)",
"name": "en-verb"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ambitransitive",
"3": "archaic"
},
"expansion": "(transitive, intransitive, archaic)",
"name": "term-label"
}
],
"hyphenation": [
"be‧seem"
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples"
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "This inn beseems well for a weary wayfarer.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 110, column 1:",
"text": "To ſay the truth, this fact was infamous, / And ill beſeeming any common man; / Much more a Knight, a Captaine, and a Leader.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 19, page 85:",
"text": "VVith that, her angels Face, vnſeene afore, / Like to the ruddie morne appeard in ſight, / Deawed with ſiluer drops, through ſweating ſore, / But ſomewhat redder, then beſeem'd aright, / Through toyleſome heate and labour of her weary fight.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1624 (first performance), John Fletcher, Rule a Wife and Have a Wife. A Comoedy. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Leonard Lichfield […], published 1640, →OCLC, Act I, scene [iii], page 8:",
"text": "Alt[ea]. Shee would faine marry. / 1. Tis a proper calling, / And well beſeemes her yeares, who would ſhe yoke with?",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1643 January 14, “To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty. The Humble Petition of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, from Their Meeting at Edinburgh, January 4, 1643 [Julian calendar].”, in The Humble Petition of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly to the Kings Majesty. […], Edinburgh: […] Evan Tyler, […], →OCLC, page 6:",
"text": "The Nationall Aſſembly of this Kirk, from which we have our Commiſſion, did promiſe in their thankſgiving for the many favours expreſſed in Your Majeſties Letter, their beſt endeavours to keep the people under their charge, in unity and peace, and in loyalty and obedience to Your Majeſtie and Your Laws, which we confeſſe is a duty well beſeeming the preachers of the Goſpel: […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1820, John Keats, “Isabella; or, The Pot of Basil. A Story from Boccaccio.”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, stanza XIX, page 58:",
"text": "Now they can no more hear thy ghittern's tune, / For venturing syllables that ill beseem / The quiet glooms of such a piteous theme.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1843, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], “The Broken Gittern”, in The Last of the Barons, volume I, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book I (The Adventures of Master Marmaduke Nevile), page 34:",
"text": "My good damsel, you are now, I think, out of danger; it would ill beseem you, so young and comely, to go further with one not old enough to be your protector, so, in God's name, depart quickly, […]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1915 July, “Close-ups”, in Photoplay Magazine: The National Movie Publication, volume VIII, number 2, Chicago, Ill.: Photoplay Publishing, →OCLC, page 120:",
"text": "The girl is born pretty—and a rebel. […] The mouth, artfully carmined to allure, beseems the red door of a white sepulchre.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Generally with a qualifying word such as ill or well: to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)."
],
"links": [
[
"ill",
"ill#Adverb"
],
[
"well",
"well#Adverb"
],
[
"appear",
"appear"
],
[
"look",
"look#Verb"
],
[
"seem",
"seem"
],
[
"way",
"way#Noun"
]
],
"tags": [
"archaic",
"intransitive",
"transitive"
]
},
{
"antonyms": [
{
"tags": [
"archaic"
],
"word": "misbeseem"
},
{
"tags": [
"obsolete"
],
"word": "unbeseem"
}
],
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English terms with usage examples"
],
"examples": [
{
"text": "It beseems you not to grumble thus.",
"type": "example"
},
{
"ref": "1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii], page 114, column 2:",
"text": "Giue me their Bodyes, that I may beare them hence / And giue them Buriall, as beſeemes their worth.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act I]:",
"text": "VVell Mortimer, ile make thee rue thoſe vvords. / Beſeemes it thee to contradict thy King?",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC:",
"text": "Sad pauſe, and deepe regard beſeemes the ſage, / My part is youth and beates theſe from the ſtage.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1597, Richard Hooker, “Lessons Intermingled with Our Prayers”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], 2nd edition, London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, book V, page 254:",
"text": "Should wee hereupon frame a rule that what forme of ſpeech or behauiour ſoeuer is fit for ſuters in a Princes Court, the ſame and no other beſeemeth vs in our prayers to Almightie God?",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1639, Thomas Fuller, “Henry of Champaigne Chosen King; the Noble Achievements and Victories of King Richard”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book III, page 127:",
"text": "King Richard ſeeking to put his courage out of doubt, brought his judgement into queſtion, being more prodigall of his perſon then beſeemed a Generall. One wound he received, but by loſing his bloud he found his ſpirits, and laid about him like a mad-man.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, pages 45–46, lines 833–836:",
"text": "[Nature] hath purvey'd / From all the Elements her choiceſt ſtore / To treat thee as beſeems, and as her Lord / VVith honour, only deign to ſit and eat.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter V, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 95:",
"text": "\"Lady,\" said Cedric, \"this beseems not; were further pledge necessary, I myself, offended, and justly offended, as I am, would yet gage my honour for the honour of Ivanhoe.[\"]",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1842, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Legends of the Province House. I.—Howe’s Masquerade.”, in Twice-Told Tales, volume II, Boston, Mass.: James Munroe and Company, →OCLC, page 10:",
"text": "Trust me, sir, I have already laughed more than beseems my cloth, at your Homeric confabulation with yonder ragamuffin General of the rebels. One other such fit of merriment, and I must throw off my clerical wig and band.",
"type": "quote"
},
{
"ref": "1884, Robert Browning, “A Camel-driver”, in Ferishtah’s Fancies, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 61:",
"text": "Man acts as man must: God as God beseems.",
"type": "quote"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Without any qualifying word: to be appropriate or creditable (for someone or something)."
],
"links": [
[
"appropriate",
"appropriate"
],
[
"creditable",
"creditable"
]
],
"synonyms": [
{
"word": "become"
},
{
"word": "befit"
},
{
"word": "suit"
}
],
"tags": [
"archaic",
"intransitive",
"transitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/bɪˈsiːm/",
"tags": [
"Received-Pronunciation"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-beseem.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/61/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-beseem.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-beseem.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/61/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-beseem.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-beseem.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/bəˈsim/",
"tags": [
"General-American"
]
},
{
"rhymes": "-iːm"
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "priličam",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "приличам"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "podobavam",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "подобавам"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "sich ziemen"
},
{
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "bisemen"
},
{
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something)",
"word": "semen"
},
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "inbaḡā",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "اِنْبَغَى"
},
{
"code": "ar",
"lang": "Arabic",
"roman": "lāqa",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "لَاقَ"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"roman": "podobavam",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "подобавам"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"tags": [
"dated"
],
"word": "geziemen"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "sich ziemen"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"tags": [
"dated"
],
"word": "ziemen"
},
{
"code": "grc",
"lang": "Ancient Greek",
"roman": "éoika",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "ἔοικα"
},
{
"code": "grc",
"lang": "Ancient Greek",
"roman": "prépō",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "πρέπω"
},
{
"code": "gu",
"lang": "Gujarati",
"roman": "sohvũ",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "સોહવું"
},
{
"code": "hi",
"lang": "Hindi",
"roman": "śobhnā",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "शोभना"
},
{
"code": "nds-de",
"lang": "Low German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"tags": [
"German-Low-German"
],
"word": "böhren"
},
{
"code": "nds-de",
"lang": "Low German",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"tags": [
"German-Low-German"
],
"word": "geböhren"
},
{
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "dolikuva",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "доликува"
},
{
"code": "mk",
"lang": "Macedonian",
"roman": "prilega",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "прилега"
},
{
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "bisemen"
},
{
"code": "enm",
"lang": "Middle English",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "semen"
},
{
"code": "non",
"lang": "Old Norse",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "byrja"
},
{
"code": "non",
"lang": "Old Norse",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "sama"
},
{
"code": "ur",
"lang": "Urdu",
"sense": "to be appropriate or credible (for someone or something)",
"word": "شوبھنا"
}
],
"word": "beseem"
}
Download raw JSONL data for beseem meaning in English (16.0kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-21 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-12-04 using wiktextract (d8cb2f3 and 4e554ae). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.