betee

Etymology

From Middle English biten, biteon, from Old English betēon (“to cover, surround, enclose, dispose of, bestow, bequeath, impeach, accuse”), equivalent to be- +‎ tee. Cognate with German beziehen (“to obtain, cover, receive, draw”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (bitiuhan, “to bestow, draw over, betray”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iː

Verb

betee (third-person singular simple present betees, present participle beteeing, simple past beteed or betow, past participle beteed or betown)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To draw over (as a covering); cover; veil.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To pull or tug at.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To employ; spend; bestow (time, pains, etc.)
4. (transitive, obsolete) To bring about; manage; arrange.