Library / English Dictionary

    BETHINK

    Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

    Irregular inflected form: bethought  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

     I. (verb) 

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    Consider or ponder something carefullyplay

    Example:

    She bethought her of their predicament

    Classified under:

    Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

    Hypernyms (to "bethink" is one way to...):

    chew over; contemplate; excogitate; meditate; mull; mull over; muse; ponder; reflect; ruminate; speculate; think over (reflect deeply on a subject)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    Cause oneself to consider somethingplay

    Classified under:

    Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

    Cause:

    consider; study (give careful consideration to)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s somebody

    Credits

     Context examples: 

    The Professor went on:—Come, sir, bethink yourself.

    (Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

    But I bethought myself that I was in a boat, after all; and that a man like Mr. Peggotty was not a bad person to have on board if anything did happen.

    (David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

    But as she sat she bethought herself of the egg that the moon had given her; and when she broke it, there ran out a hen and twelve chickens of pure gold, that played about, and then nestled under the old one’s wings, so as to form the most beautiful sight in the world.

    (Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

    I should have told you so this morning, but you said that you were coming thither, so I bethought me that I might hold it back as a surprise to you.

    (The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

    I bethought myself to talk about the school and my scholars.

    (Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

    I have, in my possession, in his hand and pocket-book, several similar imitations of Mr. W.'s signature, here and there defaced by fire, but legible to anyone. I never attested any such document. And I have the document itself, in my possession. Uriah Heep, with a start, took out of his pocket a bunch of keys, and opened a certain drawer; then, suddenly bethought himself of what he was about, and turned again towards us, without looking in it.

    (David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

    When the brother heard of all this, and how a turnip had made the gardener so rich, he envied him sorely, and bethought himself how he could contrive to get the same good fortune for himself.

    (Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

    Besides, bethink you of His own words—that those who live by the sword shall perish by the sword.

    (The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

    I was just beginning to stifle with the fumes of conservatory flowers and sprinkled essences, when I bethought myself to open the window and step out on to the balcony.

    (Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

    Well, bethink you, Ford, would not more power and expression have been put into the face by a long and noble beard?

    (The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)


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