bestow
Meanings
- To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use.
- To apply (money) for some purpose; to expend, to spend.
- To impart (something) gratuitously; to present (something) to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; to confer, to give, to accord; to render.
- To place or put (someone or something) somewhere or in a certain situation; to dispose of.
- To deposit (something) for safekeeping; to lay up (something) in store; to stow.
- To provide (someone or oneself) with accommodation; to find quarters for (someone or oneself); to lodge, to quarter.
- To behave or conduct (oneself); to acquit.
- To give (someone or oneself) in marriage.
- An act of presenting a thing to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; a bestowal.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
PIE word *h₁epi The verb is derived from Middle English bestowen, bistouen, bistowen (“to give, bestow; to apply (something to something else); to arrange or have control over (something); to place (someone) in a position; to use (for some purpose); (reflexive) to find (oneself) a place to live or shelter”) [and other forms], from bi- (prefix forming verbs, often with a completive, figurative, or intensive meaning) + stouen, stowen (“to pack (cargo) in a ship, stow; to place (someone) in a certain position; to provide quarters for, lodge; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to place; to stand (up)”)). The English word is analysable as be- (intensifying prefix forming verbs) + stow (“to put (something) away in a suitable place; etc.”). The noun is derived from the verb.