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besetting
[
bih-
set
-ing
]
Origin
be·set·ting
/
bɪˈsɛt
ɪŋ
/
Show Spelled
[
bih-
set
-ing
]
Show IPA
adjective
constantly assailing or obsessing, as with temptation:
a besetting sin.
Origin:
1540–50;
beset
+
-ing
2
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
:04
:03
:02
:01
Besetting
is always a great word to know.
So is
slumgullion
. Does it mean:
So is
flibbertigibbet
. Does it mean:
So is
doohickey
. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Dictionary.com Unabridged
be·set
/
bɪˈsɛt
/
Show Spelled
[
bih-
set
]
Show IPA
verb (used with object),
-set,
-set·ting.
1.
to attack on all sides; assail; harass:
to be beset by enemies; beset by difficulties.
2.
to surround; hem in:
a village beset on all sides by dense forest.
3.
to set or place upon; bestud:
a gold bracelet beset with jewels.
4.
Nautical
.
to surround (a vessel) by ice, so that
control
of the helm is lost.
Origin:
before 1000;
Middle English
besetten,
Old English
besettan.
See
be-
,
set
Related forms
be·set·ment,
noun
be·set·ter,
noun
pre·be·set,
verb (used with object),
-set,
-set·ting.
un·be·set,
adjective
Synonyms
2.
encircle, enclose, besiege, beleaguer.
3.
stud, decorate, ornament.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To
besetting
Collins
World English Dictionary
besetting
(bɪˈsɛtɪŋ)
—
adj
tempting, harassing, or assailing (esp in the phrase
besetting sin
)
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
beset
O.E. besettan "to put, place; own, keep; cover, surround with, besiege," from P.Gmc. *bisatjan (cf. O.S. bisettjan, Ger. besetzen, Goth. bisatjan); see be- +
set
(v.). The figurative sense also was in O.E.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
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