bestow
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bestow
- /bɪˈstəʊ/ UK
- /bɪˈstoʊ/ US
- /bɪˈsto/ Scotland
- /bɪˈstou/ Wales
Rhymes with -əʊ
Where it comes from
PIE word
*h₁épi
The verb is derived from Middle English bestowen, bistouen, bistowen (“to give, bestow; to apply (something to something else); to arrange or have control over (something); to place (someone) in a position; to use (for some purpose); (reflexive) to find (oneself) a place to live or shelter”) [and other forms], from bi- (prefix forming verbs, often with a completive, figurative, or intensive meaning) + stouen, stowen (“to pack (cargo) in a ship, stow; to place (someone) in a certain position; to provide quarters for, lodge; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to place; to stand (up)”)). The English word is analysable as be- (intensifying prefix forming verbs) + stow (“to put (something) away in a suitable place; etc.”).
The noun is derived from the verb.
verb bestows · bestowing · bestowed · bestow
- To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use. All the voide time, that is betwene the huores of woorke ſlepe and meat, that they be ſuffered to beſtowe, euerye man as he lyketh beſte hym ſelfe.
- To apply (money) for some purpose; to expend, to spend. O if I had had time to haue made nevv liueries: I vvoulde haue beſtovved the thouſand pound I borrovved of you, but tis no matter, this poore ſhevv doth better, this doth inferre the zeale I had to ſee him.
- To impart (something) gratuitously; to present (something) to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; to confer, to give, to accord; to render. I bestow upon you the name of Peter.
- To place or put (someone or something) somewhere or in a certain situation; to dispose of. The diuell take the one partie, / And his dam the other, / And theyle be both beſtovved. / I haue endured more for their ſakes, / Then man is able to endure.
- To deposit (something) for safekeeping; to lay up (something) in store; to stow. The londes of a certayne man brought forth frutes plenteouſly⸝ and he thought in hym ſilfe ſayinge: whatt ſhall I do⸝ becauſe I have noo roume where to beſtowe my frutes?
- To provide (someone or oneself) with accommodation; to find quarters for (someone or oneself); to lodge, to quarter. The ſixteene daye of May they were al beſtovved abourd in Spaniſh ſhippes furniſhed with victual, & other neceſſaries for that iourney.
- To behave or conduct (oneself); to acquit. Novv therefore vvould I haue thee to my Tutor / (For long agone I haue forgot to court, / Beſides the faſhion of the time is chang'd) / Hovv, and vvhich vvay I may beſtovv my ſelfe / To be regarded in her ſun-bright eye.
- To give (someone or oneself) in marriage. You ſay, if I bring in your Roſalinde, / You vvill beſtovv her on Orlando heere?
noun bestows
- An act of presenting a thing to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; a bestowal. The Muſes bacely begge, or bibbe, or both, and muſt, for vvhy? / They finde as bad Beſtoe as is their Portage beggerly: / Yea novv by melancholie vvalkes and thred-bare coates vve geſſe / At Clyents and at Poetes: none vvorke more and profit leſſe, […]
