† beˈsit, v. Obs.
Also 4–5 bisit.
[OE. besittan to sit about, besiege f. be- 1 + sittan to sit. The primary verb, of which beset is the causal.]
1. trans. To encamp about, besiege.
| a 1100 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1087 Se cyng..let besittan þone castel. 1154 Ibid. an. 1135 Te king it besæt. |
2. To sit upon; to lie heavy upon; to weigh upon.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 110 Hit schal bisitten oure soules sore atte laste. 1377 Ibid. B. x. 361 It shal bisitten vs ful soure, þe siluer þat we kepen. |
3. To sit properly upon (as a dress): to fit, suit, become. Cf. F. seoir.
| c 1449 Pecock Repr. i. xiv. 73 This..bisittith not his wisdom. c 1471 Fortescue Wks. (1869) 463 Yt besatt not his magnifycence to have done otherwise. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 227 Affections for to change it well besits. 1614 C. B. Ghost Rich. III, Yeelding thoughts besit the basest slaves. |