bethrow

English

Etymology

From Middle English bethrowen, from Old English beþrāwan (“to twist”), equivalent to be- +‎ throw. Cognate with West Frisian bedraaie (“to cheat, deceive”), Dutch bedraaien (“to involve”), German bedrehen (“to heave to, come to”).

Verb

bethrow (third-person singular simple present bethrows, present participle bethrowing, simple past bethrew, past participle bethrown)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To throw or twist about; throw off; torture.
   • 1620, Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron, Containing an Hundred Pleasant Nouels:

     Gioseso, hauing prouided a good Holly-wand, went into the Chamber, where his wife sate railing, and despitefully grumbling, where taking her by the haire of her head, bethrew her at his feete, beating her entreamely with the wand.

   • 2013, Amritpal Singh, Journies of Fledging Steps, page 34:

     Were I a flower what would I do, […]
     I would be growing to be
     Be made into a garland to
     To bethrow
     two people in a
     A bond of marriage or
     Or adorn,
     the neck of someone honoured
     at a drop of a hat.

   • 2014, Paul A. Scanlon, Adrian Roscoe, The Common Touch: Popular Literature from the Elizabethans to the Restoration, →ISBN:

     O master heare you, you have made a fresh hand now, I thought you would bethrow you: what will you doe now?