besit

See also: bəsit

English

Etymology

From Middle English besitten, from Old English besittan (“to sit round, surround, beset, besiege, hold, council, occupy, possess”), from Proto-West Germanic *bisittjan, from Proto-Germanic *bisitjaną (“to sit near, sit among or around”), equivalent to be- +‎ sit. Cognate with Dutch bezitten, German besitzen, Norwegian Bokmål besitte, Danish besidde, Swedish besitta, Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐍃𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (bisitan).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪt

Verb

besit (third-person singular simple present besits, present participle besitting, simple past besat, past participle besat or (archaic) besitten)

1. (transitive) To sit around; sit about; besiege.
   • 2003, Lawrence Murray, The Kassandra Complex, page 473:

     When not deep in thought, his blue eyes dance. I feel sometimes that behind his thoughtful gaze besits a hint of strain.

2. (transitive) To sit upon; occupy.
   • 2006, Philip Francis Esler, Ancient Israel: The Old Testament in Its Social Context, page 157:

     In such contexts, the ישבים are those who “besit” large estates and seats of judgment and power. The ישב par excellence is the king who “besits” the throne.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To sit properly upon, as clothes; to suit; become.

Related terms

• beset

Anagrams

• Betsi, Steib, biset, bites, ebits

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈsit/

Verb

besit

1. third-person singular present indicative of besittan