besteal

English

Etymology

From Middle English bistelen, from Old English bestelan, from Proto-West Germanic *bestelan, from Proto-Germanic *bistelaną, corresponding to be- (“off, away”) +‎ steal. Cognate with Saterland Frisian besteele, Dutch bestelen, German Low German bestehlen, Luxembourgish bestielen, German bestehlen, Swedish bestjäla (“to rob”).

Verb

besteal (third-person singular simple present besteals, present participle bestealing, simple past bestole, past participle bestolen)

1. (intransitive, obsolete or archaic, rare) To steal, move stealthily.

   Synonym: steal away

   • 2018, Edgar Beaumont, Teleportkinesis:

     Come, come, truly see what mortal man behold, the mother of beauty to them all bestole. Truly matchless thou art, my beloved. I love you more than all!

Anagrams

• Beatles, belates