Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

befoul

[bih-foul]

Origin

verb (used with object)

to make dirty or filthy; soil; defile; sully: a bird that befouls its own nest.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English bi-foulen. See be-, foul

Related forms

be·foul·er, noun

be·foul·ment, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To befoul

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Befoul is one of our favorite verbs.

So is skedaddle. Does it mean:

to run away hurriedly; flee.

chat, to converse

LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Collins

World English Dictionary

befoul (bɪˈfaʊl)

—vb
	(tr) to make dirty or foul; soil; defile

be'fouler

—n

be'foulment

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

befoul

early 14c., from be- + foul (v.).

Word Dynamo Rating For Befoul

People who can define Befoul may know 17,187 words, as many as a 6th grader.

How many words do you know?

Enjoy Dictionary.com ad-free! Learn more

Related Words

dirty

file

Matching Quote

"Our young people have come to look upon war as a kind of beneficent deity, which not only adds to the national honor but uplifts a nation and develops patriotism and courage. That is all true. But it is only fair, too, to let them know that the garments of the deity are filthy and that some of her influences debase and befoul a people."

-Rebecca Harding Davis

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help