beshrew

American  

[bih-shroo] / bɪˈʃru /

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

1. to curse; invoke evil upon.

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beshrew British  

/ bɪˈʃruː /

verb

1. archaic (tr) to wish evil on; curse (used in mild oaths such as beshrew me )

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Etymology

Origin of beshrew

First recorded in 1275–1325, beshrew is from the Middle English word beshrewen. See be-, shrew ¹

Explanation

To beshrew is to invoke a curse on someone. Horrified at discovering an empty baking pan, you might yell, "Beshrew all of you who ate my brownies!" The verb beshrew is so old fashioned that you're most likely to discover it in a play or poem by Shakespeare, who used it frequently. When the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet says, "Beshrew your heart for sending me about, to catch my death with jaunting up and down!", what she means is "Curse you for making me run around so much!" Beshrew comes from shrew, an animal believed to have a poisonous bite.

Example Sentences

The cackling and talking has come to naught, as it mostly does," said he grunting to himself; "but beshrew me if I like a bootless errand.

From The Last of the Vikings by Bowling, John

"I have outwitted a whole household," he thought to himself; "beshrew me if I cannot tackle one man, even although it be Johnie Armstrong."

From Tales From Scottish Ballads by Stewart, Allan

If older ears enjoy such ravishment, I'm not so old, beshrew me, potent Duke, But I can wake at true-love's bidding! duke.

From The Legendary and Poetical Remains of John Roby author of 'Traditions of Lancashire', with a sketch of his literary life and character by Roby, John

Chaucer has the verb shrew = to curse; the current verb is beshrew.

From Milton's Comus by Bell, William

"Now, beshrew me if thou art not the self-same young gentleman who gave me the cloak," he cried in grateful surprise.

From The Golden Galleon BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES OF MASTER GILBERT OGLANDER, AND OF HOW, IN THE YEAR 1591, HE FOUGHT UNDER THE GALLANT SIR by Leighton, Robert