Part 617

I beseech you, punish me not with your hard thoughts. Shak.

But Eve . . . besought his peace. Milton.

Syn. -- To beg; to crave. -- To Beseech, Entreat, Solicit, Implore, Supplicate. These words agree in marking that sense of want which leads men to beg some favor. To solicit is to make a request, with some degree of earnestness and repetition, of one whom we address as a superior. To entreat implies greater urgency, usually enforced by adducing reasons or arguments. To beseech is still stronger, and belongs rather to the language of poetry and imagination. To implore denotes increased fervor of entreaty, as addressed either to equals or superiors. To supplicate expresses the extreme of entreaty, and usually implies a state of deep humiliation. Thus, a captive supplicates a conqueror to spare his life. Men solicit by virtue of their interest with another; they entreat in the use of reasoning and strong representations; they beseech with importunate earnestness; they implore from a sense of overwhelming distress; they supplicate with a feeling of the most absolute inferiority and dependence.

Be*seech", n. Solicitation; supplication. [Obs. or Poetic] Shak.

Be*seech"er (&?;), n. One who beseeches.

Be*seech"ing, a. Entreating urgently; imploring; as, a beseeching look. -- Be*seech"ing*ly, adv. -- Be*seech"ing*ness, n.

Be*seech"ment (&?;), n. The act of beseeching or entreating earnestly. [R.] Goodwin.

Be*seek" (&?;), v. t. To beseech. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Be*seem" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beseemed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Beseeming.] [Pref. be- + seem.] Literally: To appear or seem (well, ill, best, etc.) for (one) to do or to have. Hence: To be fit, suitable, or proper for, or worthy of; to become; to befit.

A duty well beseeming the preachers. Clarendon.

What form of speech or behavior beseemeth us, in our prayers to God ? Hocker.

Be*seem", v. i. To seem; to appear; to be fitting. [Obs.] "As beseemed best." Spenser.

Be*seem"ing, n. 1. Appearance; look; garb. [Obs.]

I . . . did company these three in poor beseeming. Shak.

2. Comeliness. Baret.

Be*seem"ing, a. Becoming; suitable. [Archaic] -- Be*seem"ing*ly, adv. -- Be*seem"ing*ness, n.

Be*seem"ly, a. Fit; suitable; becoming. [Archaic]

In beseemly order sitten there. Shenstone.

Be*seen" (&?;), a. [Properly the p. p. of besee.]

1. Seen; appearing. [Obs. or Archaic]

2. Decked or adorned; clad. [Archaic] Chaucer.

3. Accomplished; versed. [Archaic] Spenser.

Be*set" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beset; p. pr. & vb. n. Besetting.] [AS. besettan (akin to OHG. bisazjan, G. besetzen, D. bezetten); pref. be- + settan to set. See Set.] 1. To set or stud (anything) with ornaments or prominent objects.

A robe of azure beset with drops of gold. Spectator.

The garden is so beset with all manner of sweet shrubs that it perfumes the air. Evelyn.

2. To hem in; to waylay; to surround; to besiege; to blockade. "Beset with foes." Milton.

Let thy troops beset our gates. Addison.

3. To set upon on all sides; to perplex; to harass; -- said of dangers, obstacles, etc. "Adam, sore beset, replied." Milton. "Beset with ills." Addison. "Incommodities which beset old age." Burke.