† beˈsench, v. Obs.
Forms: 1 besencan, 2–3 besencen, (Orm.) bisennkenn, bisenchen. pa. tense 2–3 bisencte, -seinte.
[OE. besęncan wk. vb., f. be- 2 + sęncan:—OTeut. sanqjan, causal of sinqan to sink.]
trans. To cause to sink, submerge, plunge down, overwhelm.
| 971 Blickl. Hom. 33 Se þe mihte þone costiᵹend instepes on helle grund besencean. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xviii. 6 Besenced [Rushw. besenked] on sæs grund. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 87 God bisencte þa þe pharaon{revsc} and al his genge. Ibid. 107 Hi bisencheð us on helle. c 1200 Ormin 19689 Þatt mihhte hemm alle..Inn helle wel bisennkenn. a 1225 Ancr. R. 334 [He] biseinte [v.r. bisencte] Sodome & Gomorre. |