bethink, v.
(bɪˈθɪŋk)
Pa. tense and pple. bethought (bɪˈθɔːt). In OE. biþencan, ME. bithenchen, bithenke: for variants see think.
[Com. Teut.: OE. biþęncan = OS. bithenkjan, OHG. bidenchan (MHG., mod.G., Du. bedenken), Goth. biþagkjan:—OTeut. *biþaŋkjan, f. bi-, be- + þaŋkjan to think. The sense-development may be compared with that of advise v. and F. aviser.]
I. trans.
1. To think of or about, bear in mind; to call to mind, recollect. Obs. exc. with clause.
| a 1000 Guthlac 1270 (Gr.) Tid is, þat þu fere and þa ærendu eal biþence. c 1250 Lay. 8257 Biþench þat he was Lud kinges sone. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 982 Her bewte to bythenkyn, and her youthe. 1597 J. Payne Royal Exch. 33 Bethinck that the crowne of glorie is set forthe..in the end of the race. 1601 Shakes. Per. v. i. 44 'Tis well bethought. 1885 E. Arnold Secr. Death 10 Bethink How those of old, the saints, clove to their word. |
† b. To think upon or remember (a person). Obs.
| c 1320 Cast. Loue 482 And to habben me bi-þouht. c 1350 Leg. Rood (1871) 19 A bi-heste he hedde Whon þe tyme weore folfuld vr lord him wolde biþenche. c 1449 Pecock Repr. ii. v. 164 We bithenken tho persoones. |
† 2. To think of, imagine, conceive. Obs.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 25 Biþenchen mid his fule heorte þe heo wulle underfon swa heȝ þing. c 1386 Chaucer Wife's T. 772 He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke. |
† 3. To think over (a thing) with a view to decision or action; to consider. Obs.
| c 1220 Bestiary 94 Or he it biðenken can hise eȝen weren mirke. 1297 R. Glouc. 289 Hii..byþoȝte hou hii myȝte best myd þe holy body do. c 1350 Will. Palerne 2747 Þe werewolf..biþout how were best Þe bestes to help. 1577 J. Northbrooke Dicing (1843) 10 Al things which he hath..either intended, bythought, said, or done. 1614 R. Wilkinson Paire Serm. Ep. Ded., Bethinking by what meanes I might best either expresse or deserve thankes. 1647 F. Bland Souldiers March 32 If they should..seriously bethink what clemencie..they would desire, if in the same case. |
† 4. To devise, contrive, plan, arrange. Obs.
| a 1225 Juliana 67 Greiðe al þat þu const grimliche biþenchen. c 1320 Cast. Loue 698 Seue berbicans..Wiþ gret ginne al bi-þouht. c 1440 Gesta Rom. 35 Go we alle anon to the Emperour, and be-thynke vs a remedye. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iii. iii. 39 We bethinke a meanes to breake it off. |
† 5. To regret, repent, grudge (= OE. ofþęncan.)
| 1682 Norris Hierocles 24 Neither ought we to bethink what we spend upon them. 1687 in Lond. Gaz. No. 2252/5 That Your Majesty may never have cause..to withdraw or bethink the..Liberty given us. 1696 Locke in F. Bourne Life II. xiii. 338, I can never bethink any pains or time of mine in the service of my country. |
† 6. causal. To remind (one) of, that. Obs.
| 1340 Ayenb. 100 Þis word uader þe beþengþ þet þou art zone. |
II. refl.
† 7. To collect one's thoughts; to take thought; to recollect oneself, return to oneself. Obs.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke xv. 17 Þa beþohte he hine and cwæð. a 1200 Moral Ode 43 in Lamb. Hom. 161 Wel late ich habbe me bi-þocht. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 244/1 She bethoughte her and prayed thus in her self. 1611 Bible 1 Kings viii. 47 If they shall bethinke themselues..and repent. 1649 Milton Eikon. ad. fin., The rest..may find the grace..to bethink themselves and recover. |
8. To occupy oneself in thought; to reflect, consider, think; also, to call to mind, recollect.
| c 1205 Lay. 7664 ælc Frensc mon þe wes aht hæfð hine seolfne biþoht. a 1225 Ancr. R. 200 Ȝif heo hire wel bi⁓ðouhte. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 893 The iustice him gan bi⁓thenche, And thus aposed that wenche. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 56 Eve..ansuered to lightely withoute bethenkinge her. 1575 Laneham Let. (1871) 51 Ile tell yoo if I can, when I haue better bethought me. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. ii. 145, I will bethinke me: come againe to morrow. 1740 L. Clarke Hist. Bible viii. 525 Advising them to bethink themselves, and to take soberer measures. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. I. 83 Rip bethought himself a moment. |
b. with inf. (obs.) or obj. clause, esp. indirect interrogative.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 155 Hwenne ho hom biðohten þet heo isuneȝed hefden. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶228 Bythynke him wel that he hath deserved thilke peynes. 1634 Heywood M'head lost iv. Wks. 1874 IV. 148 Bethinke thee what thou vndertak'st. 1851 Helps Comp. Solit. vi. (ed. 1874) 84 To bethink themselves how little they may owe to their own merit. |
c. with of (formerly on, upon).
| c 1200 Ormin 2917 Þatt Godess þeoww himm ȝeorne birrþ Biþennkenn & bilokenn, Off all þatt tatt he wile don. 1297 R. Glouc. 368 Kyng Wyllam byþoȝte hym ek of þe volc, þat was verlore. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 372 He by⁓þouȝte hym on þis swerde. 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle v. v. (1859) 76 Thenne I bethought me vppon the byrdes. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 461, I haue bethought me of another fault. 1870 Bryant Iliad I. iv. 113 The Greeks will..Bethink them of their country. |
9. To take it into one's head, propose to oneself, resolve. (F. s'aviser.)
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 125 Þe mayster him biþoȝt, Þat he wolde se þe semblé. 1387 Trevisa Higden I. 139 Þanne þe lordes byþouȝte hem..oþerwise to fiȝte. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iv. iii. 251 It may be I shall otherwise bethinke me. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 264 ¶5 A Fellow..has bethought himself of joining Profit and Pleasure together. 1884 Courthope Addison iv. 58 Charles naturally bethought himself of calling literature to his assistance. |
III. intr.
10. To consider, reflect, meditate, think. arch.
| c 1300 Beket 43 He moste bithenche, For he was stronge adrad ȝut. 1382 Wyclif Gen. xxiv. 63 He was goon out to bithenk in the feeld. 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle i. xiv. (1859) 11, I gan to bythenke to me yf euer I had seruyd ony seynt. 1590 Swinburn Testaments Ded., Bethinking vvith myselfe (most reuerende Father). 1817 Byron Manfred i. i. 167 Bethink ere thou dismiss us, ask again. |
† b. with of, on, upon; = 1–4. Obs.
| a 1200 Moral Ode 162 in Trin. Coll. Hom. 224 He biðohte an helle fur. c 1205 Lay. 5021 Biðenc o ðire monschipe. a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 428 While i biþenche of sume ginne. 1384 Chaucer H. Fame 1176 On this Castell to bethynke. 1597 J. Payne Royal Exch. 10, I wyshe..the exchange..to bethinck on the wayters..on there..soules. 1608 J. King Serm. 38 His Eie-liddes haue considered and bethought of the means. 1647 W. Browne Polex. ii. 75 He bethought on the meanes. |
IV. pass.
11. to be bethought: to bethink oneself (in senses 7, 8, 9). See also bethought.
| c 1250 O.E. Misc. 166 To bidden his milce to late we beoð biþohte. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 767 Of a myrthe I am right now bythoght To doon yow ese. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 1080 It is not strange..An husbonde on his baathe to be bethought. 1605 Shakes. Lear ii. iii. 6 And am bethought To take the basest, and most poorest shape. |