bestir, v.
(bɪˈstɜː(r))
For forms see stir.
[OE. bestyrian, f. be- 2 + styrian to stir.]
† 1. ? To heap or pile (a thing) about with. (OE.)
| c 890 K. ælfred Bæda iii. ii. (Bosw.) His þeᵹnas mid moldan hit bestyredon and ᵹefæstnedon. |
2. To stir up, ‘to put into vigorous action’ (J.). a. refl. To begin to move actively, to manifest activity, to busy oneself.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 3078 Alle they wolde heom bysteorre, Agayns him with ryght to weorre. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 6248 Bestir the and hardiliche fight. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 295 The shipmen stood in such a fere, Was none that might him self bestere. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 512 Not much otherwise this good man Osorius here doth besturre himselfe agaynst the Lutherans. 1611 Bible 2 Sam. v. 24 Then thou shalt bestirre thy selfe. 1767 Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. I. vi. 215 She bestirs herself with the utmost activity. 1832 H. Martineau Weal & Woe i. 11 Just bestir yourself to plant your potatoes. 1867 Smiles Huguenots Eng. vi. (1880) 93 The townspeople..bestirred themselves in aid of the poor refugees. |
b. trans. To rouse into activity, make active. to bestir one's stumps (obs.): to move one's limbs actively, to exert oneself: see stir.
| 1549 Coverdale Erasm. Par. Heb. xii. 1 Bestyre youre werye handes. 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse 41 The duety of every man in a common wealth one way or other to bestirre his stoomps. 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 407 This raungyng Rhetorician besturreth his stumps so earnestly. 1605 Shakes. Lear ii. ii. 58 No Maruel, you haue so bestir'd your valour. 1663 Gerbier Counsel 59 Bestirring their Hand and Tools. 1873 Browning Red Cotton Night-Cap Country 178 More need that heirs, His natural protectors, should assume The management, bestir their counsinship. |
c. intr.
| 1610 Shakes. Temp. i. i. 3 Speake to th' Mariners: fall too't, yarely, or we run our selues a ground, bestirre, bestirre. |
3. To move, stir, agitate (a thing).
| 1813 Byron Giaour 377 Methought Some motion from the current caught Bestirr'd it more. |