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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

besow en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /bɪˈsəʊ/

Etymology

From Middle English besowen, bisawen, from Old English besāwan (“to sow, sow about”); equivalent to be- + sow. Cognate with Middle High German besǣjen (“to besow”).

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To sow; sow all around or about; scatter; disperse; plant.
    • [...] is to miss for him all the advantage our civilization is prepared to besow upon his childhood. 1898, International Association of Factory Inspectors, Annual convention of the International Association of Factory Inspectors:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
besows Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
besown Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
besowing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
besowed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
besowed Tense=Past lexicographic