bewatch

English

Etymology

From be- (“about, over”) +‎ watch. Compare bewake.

Verb

bewatch (third-person singular simple present bewatches, present participle bewatching, simple past and past participle bewatched)

1. (transitive) To keep watch over; guard; observe.
   • 1867, William Carew Hazlitt, Handbook to the Popular, Poetical and Dramatic Literature of Great Britain:

     Discoursing how they pretended to bewatch and drowne his Maiestie in the Sea comming from Den- marke, with such other wouderfull matters as the like hath not been heard of at any time.

   • 2011, The Collected Poems of Hafiz - Page 337:

     In hope's corner, on her eyebrow, Lo! the eye of quest (like those Who bewatch the new moon's coming In the Fasting-tide) we've laid.

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