† beˈtell, v. Obs.
Forms: inf. 1 betellan, 2–4 bitelle(n, 4 bitele, 5 betelle, (6 betele). pa. tense 3 bitald(e, -told(e. pa. pple. 3 bitald, 5 betolde.
[OE. betęllan, f. be- 1 + tęllan to tell.]
1. trans. To speak for, answer for, justify.
| 1048 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) Þæt he [Godwin] moste hine betellan. a 1250 Owl & Night. 263 Lust hu ich con me bi⁓telle Mid riȝte sothe. |
2. To speak of, declare, narrate.
| c 1205 Lay. 15868 Ȝif ich..mid soðe hit bitelle · Þat heore talen sinde lese. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ii. viii. 128 As yhe haf herd before be-talde. |
3. To lay claim to; to win; to rescue.
| c 1205 Lay. 7894 Bi-ðencheð eow ohte cnihtes to bi-tellen eowere rihtes. Ibid. 18099 Þu hauest Brutlond al bitald To þire hond. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 920 Loth was fifti winter hold Quan Abram him bitold. |
4. To calumniate, deride, deceive. [Perh. there is here properly a vb. bitelen, f. OE. tǽlan to speak ill of, calumniate: esp. in the last quot.]
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 226 He þeonne mid tet, birleð [v.r. bitelleþ] him ilome. a 1240 Lofsong in Lamb. Hom. 205 Þet heo hire ne muwen bitellen. a 1300 Cursor M. 6890 He..wrat þe nam, and sett to sele, Þat man suld oþer nan bitele. a 1460 Towneley Myst. 217 He shalle with alle his mawmentry No longere us be telle. 1567 Harman Caveat 67 She sayth that they be her children, that beteled be babes borne of such abhominable bellye. |