† well beˈseen, ppl. a. Obs.
Also 4 bebiseye.
[See besee v. II.]
Good-looking, of good appearance; well appointed or apparelled; well furnished with; versed or accomplished in.
| ? a 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 821 Fetys he was and wel beseye [Cointes fu et de bel atour]. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 302 My wif..Which is with reson wel besein. Ibid. III. 121 Sche [Virgo] is with sterres wel beseie. c 1440 Generydes 1978 Tentys large, full riche and wele besen. c 1470 Henry Wallace i. 213 Likle he was, richt byge and weyle beseyne. 1530 Palsgr. 844/1 Well bysene, bien accoustré. 1576 R. Peterson G. della Casa's Galateo 10 A Noble gentleman, courteous and well beseene in all good behauiour. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 147 Teodor Gaza ane weill besene man baitht in Lattine and greik. 1591 Spenser Virgil's Gnat 651 Eftsoones he gins to fashion forth a place,..squaring it in compasse well beseene. 1596 ― F.Q. v. viii. 29 The Briton Prince him readie did awayte, In glistering armes right goodly well beseene. 1736 W. Thompson Epithal. xiv, Our dearling Prince to meet Augusta well-beseen. a 1911 æ. J. G. Mackay Pitscottie Gloss. s.v. Beseine, Still used. ‘Ye are weel besene the day’, i.e. well clothed or fit to look upon. |