Part 569

Beat"en (bt"'n; 95), a. 1. Made smooth by beating or treading; worn by use. "A broad and beaten way." Milton. "Beaten gold." Shak.

2. Vanquished; conquered; baffled.

3. Exhausted; tired out.

4. Become common or trite; as, a beaten phrase. [Obs.]

5. Tried; practiced. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Beat"er (bt"r), n. 1. One who, or that which, beats.

2. A person who beats up game for the hunters. Black.

Beath (b), v. t. [AS. beðian to foment.] To bathe; also, to dry or heat, as unseasoned wood. [Obs.] Spenser.

{ Be`a*tif"ic (&?;), Be`a*tif"ic*al (&?;), } a. [Cf. F. béatifique, L. beatificus. See Beatify.] Having the power to impart or complete blissful enjoyment; blissful. "The beatific vision." South. -- Be`a*tif"ic*al*ly, adv.

Be`a*tif"i*cate (&?;), v. t. To beatify. [Obs.] Fuller.

Be*at`i*fi*ca"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. F. béatification.] The act of beatifying, or the state of being beatified; esp., in the R. C. Church, the act or process of ascertaining and declaring that a deceased person is one of "the blessed," or has attained the second degree of sanctity, -- usually a stage in the process of canonization. "The beatification of his spirit." Jer. Taylor.

Be*at"i*fy (b*t"*f), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beatified (-fd); p. pr. & vb. n. Beatifying.] [L. beatificare; beatus happy (fr. beare to bless, akin to bonus good) + facere to make: cf. F. béatifier. See Bounty.] 1. To pronounce or regard as happy, or supremely blessed, or as conferring happiness.

The common conceits and phrases that beatify wealth. Barrow.

2. To make happy; to bless with the completion of celestial enjoyment. "Beatified spirits." Dryden.

3. (R. C. Ch.) To ascertain and declare, by a public process and decree, that a deceased person is one of "the blessed," and is to be reverenced as such, though not canonized.

Beat"ing (&?;), n. 1. The act of striking or giving blows; punishment or chastisement by blows.

2. Pulsation; throbbing; as, the beating of the heart.

3. (Acoustics & Mus.) Pulsative sounds. See Beat, n.

4. (Naut.) The process of sailing against the wind by tacks in zigzag direction.

Be*at"i*tude (&?;), n. [L. beatitudo: cf. F. béatitude. See Beatify.] 1. Felicity of the highest kind; consummate bliss.

2. Any one of the nine declarations (called the Beatitudes), made in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. v. 3-12), with regard to the blessedness of those who are distinguished by certain specified virtues.

3. (R. C. Ch.) Beatification. Milman.

Syn. -- Blessedness; felicity; happiness.

Beau (b), n.; pl. F. Beaux (E. pron. bz), E. Beaus (bz). [F., a fop, fr. beau fine, beautiful, fr. L. bellus pretty, fine, for bonulus, dim. of bonus good. See Bounty, and cf. Belle, Beauty.] 1. A man who takes great care to dress in the latest fashion; a dandy.

2. A man who escorts, or pays attentions to, a lady; an escort; a lover.

Beau"catch`er (&?;), n. A small flat curl worn on the temple by women. [Humorous]

Beau"fet (&?;), n. [See Buffet.] A niche, cupboard, or sideboard for plate, china, glass, etc.; a buffet.

A beaufet . . . filled with gold and silver vessels. Prescott.