bestead

¹ American  

[bih-sted] / bɪˈstɛd /

verb (used with object)

besteaded, besteaded, bestead, besteading

1. to help; assist; serve; avail.

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bestead ² American  

[bih-sted] / bɪˈstɛd /

adjective

1. Archaic. placed or situated, often unfavorably or in difficulty.

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Etymology

Origin of bestead¹

First recorded in 1575–85; be- + stead

Origin of bestead²

1300–50; Middle English bisted, bistad, equivalent to bi be- + sted, variant of stad placed < Old Norse staddr, past participle of stethja to place, derivative of stathr place

Example Sentences

And hard bestead was Sir Owen to shield himself from the smashing blows which rained upon him.

From King Arthur's Knights The Tales Re-told for Boys & Girls by Gilbert, Henry

"But aren't you getting on well?" asked their little sister, sorely bestead to make the conversation pleasant to them.

From Trading by Warner, Susan

Thou'rt faint and ill bestead; I should win little worship, were I to strike thee dead.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

And for he was far and fremd bestead Yslain he should have be.

From Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse by Various

My poor child!" said the lady "you have been hardly bestead, I think.

From The Wide, Wide World by Warner, Susan