Dictionary

besleep en · VERB

Etymology

From Middle English beslepen, from Old English beslǣpan (“to sleep, sleep through, sleep over”), equivalent to be- + sleep. Compare West Frisian besliepe (“to sleep with”), Dutch beslapen (“to sleep with”), German beschlafen (“to lay with”).

Meanings

1. (ambitransitive, archaic, reflexive) To sleep; have a sleep; sleep with.
   • He still beslept himself as we passed; he being a slumbersome person. 1926, Blanche Colton Williams, Best American stories:
   • He knows the last but whom the god beslept. 1973, Georg Peter Landmann, Stefan George in fremden Sprachen:
   • Others are going about our streets, like well-meaning but beslept watchmen, calling the hours of midnight, while the morning is paling their lanterns. 1859, George Gilfillan, The poets and poetry of the Bible:

Forms