Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
bestow - 10 dictionary results

be⋅stow

[bi-stoh]
–verb (used with object)
1. to present as a gift; give; confer (usually fol. by on or upon): The trophy was bestowed upon the winner.
2. to put to some use; apply: Time spent in study is time well bestowed.
3. Archaic.
a. to provide quarters for; house; lodge.
b. to put; stow; deposit; store.

Origin:
1275–1325; ME bestowen. See be-, stow1


be⋅stow⋅al, be⋅stow⋅ment, noun


1. grant, vouchsafe, award, accord.
be·stow   (bĭ-stō')   
tr.v.   be·stowed, be·stow·ing, be·stows
  1. To present as a gift or an honor; confer: bestowed high praise on the winners.
  2. To apply; use: "On Hester Prynne's story . . . I bestowed much thought" (Nathaniel Hawthorne).
  3. To place or stow: "He bestowed [the money]in his pockets with feigned composure" (James Joyce).
  4. To store or house.

[Middle English bistowen : bi-, be- + stowen, to place; see stow.]
be·stow'a·ble adj., be·stow'al, be·stow'ment n.
Main Entry:  bestow1
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to present as a gift; grant, give
Etymology:  Middle English be- + stowen 'to place'
Usage:  transitive
Main Entry:  bestow2
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to deposit in a place; put in a position or situation
Etymology:  Middle English be- + stowen 'to place'
Main Entry:  bestow3
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to apply or put to use; employ
Etymology:  Middle English be- + stowen 'to place'
Main Entry:  bestow4
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to give lodging; put up
Etymology:  Middle English be- + stowen 'to place'
Main Entry:  bestow5
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to store, stow away
Etymology:  Middle English be- + stowen 'to place'
Main Entry:  bestow
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  bestowing; stowage, storage
Etymology:  Old French bombace 'cotton wadding'
Language Translation for : bestow
Spanish: otorgar, conceder,
German: verleihen,
Japanese: 授ける

Bestow

Be*stow"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestowing.] [OE. bestowen; pref. be- + stow a place. See Stow.]

1. To lay up in store; to deposit for safe keeping; to stow; to place; to put. "He bestowed it in a pouch." --Sir W. Scott.

See that the women are bestowed in safety. --Byron.

2. To use; to apply; to devote, as time or strength in some occupation.

3. To expend, as money. [Obs.]

4. To give or confer; to impart; -- with on or upon.

Empire is on us bestowed. --Cowper.

Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. --1 Cor. xiii. 3.

5. To give in marriage.

I could have bestowed her upon a fine gentleman. --Tatler.

6. To demean; to conduct; to behave; -- followed by a reflexive pronoun. [Obs.]

How might we see Falstaff bestow himself to-night in his true colors, and not ourselves be seen ? --Shak.

Syn: To give; grant; present; confer; accord.

bestow 
c.1315, bistowen "give" (as alms, etc.), from be- + stowen "to place" (see stow).
Search another word or see bestow on Thesaurus | Reference