behight

Alternative forms

• behote (13th-16th centuries)

Etymology

From Middle English beheten, behoten (preterite behighte), from Old English behātan (“to promise, vow, pledge oneself, threaten”) (preterite behēhte), corresponding to be- +‎ hight. Cognate with Scots beheit, behecht (“to promise, vow”), Middle High German beheizen (“to promise”).

Verb

behight (third-person singular simple present behights, present participle behighting, simple past and past participle behight or behighted)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To vow, promise (someone).
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book II:

     Thenne I behote yow sayd Balyn parte of his blood to hele youre sone with alle.

2. (dialectal, Northern England) To be designated.

   Wheea behight thee? = What is your name/to whom do you belong?

3. (obsolete, transitive) To give in trust; to commit; to entrust.
   • Spenser

     The keys are to thy hand behight.

4. (obsolete) To mean, or intend.
   • Mirror for Magistrates

     More than heart behighteth.

5. (obsolete) To consider or esteem to be; to declare to be.
   • Spenser

     All the lookers-on him dead behight.

6. (obsolete) To call; to name; to address.
   • Spenser

     Whom […] he knew and thus behight.

7. To command; to order.
   • Spenser

     He behight those gates to be unbarred.