Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BE-LA'BOR, v.t. [Perhaps from be and labor; but in Russ. bulava is a club.]

To beat soundly; to thump. Ajax belabors there a harmless ox. – Dryden.

BE-LACE', v.t. [be and lace.]

1. To fasten, as with a lace or cord.
2. To beat; to whip.

BE-LAC'ED, a.

Adorned with lace. – Beaumont.

BEL'A-MOUR, n. [Fr. bel-amour.]

A gallant; a consort. [Not used.] – Spenser.

BEL'A-MY, n. [Fr. bel-ami.]

A good friend; an intimate. [Not used.] – Spenser.

BE-LATE', v.t. [be and late.]

To retard or make too late. [Not used.]

BE-LAT'ED, a. [be and lated.]

1. Benighted; abroad late at night.
2. Too late for the hour appointed or intended; later than the proper time.

BE-LAT'ED-NESS, n.

A being too late. – Milton.

BE-LAVE', v.t. [be and lave.]

To wash. [Not used.]

BE-LAW'GIVE, v.t.

To give a law to. [Barbarous and not used.] – Milton.

BE-LAY', v.t. [This word is composed of be and lay, to lay to, lay by, or close. See Beleaguer.]

1. To block up, or obstruct. – Dryden. Gower.
2. To place in ambush. – Spenser.
3. To adorn, surround, or cover. – Spenser.
4. In seamanship, to fasten, or make fast, by winding a rope, round a cleat, kevil, or belaying-pin. It is chiefly applied to the running rigging. – Mar. Dict.

BE-LAY'ED, pp.

Obstructed; ambushed; made fast.

BE-LAY'ING, ppr.

Blocking up; laying an ambush; making fast.

BELCH, n.

1. The art of throwing out from the stomach, or from a hollow place; eructation.
2. A cant name for malt liquor. – Dennis.

BELCH, v.t. [or int. Sax. bealcan, to belch, that is, to push out, to swell or heave; belgan, to be angry, that is, to swell with passion; Eng. bulge, bilge, bulk; allied to W. balc, prominent.]

1. To throw or eject wind from the stomach with violence.
2. To eject violently from a deep hollow place; as, a volcano belches flames and lava.

BELCH'ED, pp.

Ejected from the stomach, or from a hollow place.

BELCH'ING, n.

Eructation. – Barret.

BELCH'ING, ppr.

Ejecting from the stomach or any deep hollow place.

BEL'DAM, n. [Fr. belle, fine, handsome, and dame, lady. It seems to be used in contempt, or as a cant term.]

1. An old woman. – Shak. Spenser seems to have used the word in its true sense for good dame.
2. A hag. – Dryden. Shak.

BE-LEA'GUER, v.t. [belee'ger. Ger. belagern, from be, by, near, and lagern, to lay; belegeren, to besiege, to convene, to belay; Sw. belægra, to besiege; Dan. beligger; Russ. oblegayu.]

To besiege; to block up; to surround with an army, so as to preclude escape. – Dryden.

BE-LEA'GUER-ED, pp.

Besieged.

BE-LEA'GUER-ER, n.

One who besieges. – Sherwood.

BE-LEA'GUER-ING, ppr.

Besieging; blocking up.

BE-LEAVE', v.t. [be and leave.]

To leave. [Not used.] – May.

BE-LEC'TUR-ED, a.

Lectured.