† beˈsteal, v. Obs.
For forms see steal.
[OE. bestelan, f. be- + stelan to steal. Parallel compounds in the other mod.Teut. langs. are Du. bestelen, Ger. bestehlen, Da. bestiæle, Sw. bestjäla, all meaning ‘to steal, rob.’]
intr. (and refl.) To steal or move stealthily (away or on).
| a 725 Laws of Ina §39 (Bosw.) Gif hwa on oðre scire hine bestele. c 893 K. ælfred Oros. i. x. §4 And þa nihtes on unᵹearwe hi on bestæl. c 1175 Moral Ode 15 in Lamb. Hom. 161 Elde me is bistolen on . er ich hit wiste. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 3876 On of hem..ys by-stole awaye. 1597 Dowland Lyrics in Arb. Garner IV. 47 Worn soul! That living dies, till thou on me bestoule! |