English Explanatory Dictionary

beseem

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. Generally with a qualifying word such as ill or well: to appear, look, or seem (a certain way for someone or something).
  2. Without any qualifying word: to be appropriate or creditable (for someone or something).

Pronunciation

/bɪˈsiːm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-beseem.wav /bəˈsim/

Word forms

beseem beseems beseeming beseemed

Etymology

PIE word *h₁epi From Middle English bisemen (“to beseem”) [and other forms], from be-, bi- (prefix forming transitive verbs with a completive, figurative, or intensifying sense) + semen (“to seem; to be or see as appropriate; to be visible or apparent; to regard”). Semen is derived from Old Norse sœma (“to conform to; to befit, beseem”), from Proto-Germanic *sōmijaną (“to fit; to unite”), from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one; whole”). The English word is analysable as be- (prefix with an intensifying sense) + seem.

Synonyms

become befit suit

Antonyms

misbeseem unbeseem

Derived words

beseemed beseeming beseemingly beseemingness beseemly misbeseem misbeseeming unbeseem unbeseeming unbeseemingly unbeseemly
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on B Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary