Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BE-HOOVE', v.t. [behoov'; Sax. behofian, to want, to be necessary, or expedient. Supra.]

To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to necessity, duty, or convenience. And thus it behooved Christ to suffer. Luke xxiv. It may perhaps be used intransitively; as, let him behave as it behooveth; but I believe such use is rare.

BE-HOOVE'FUL, a. [behoov'ful.]

Needful; useful; profitable; advantageous.

BE-HOOVE'FUL-LY, adv. [behoov'fully.]

Usefully; profitably. [Obs. or nearly so.]

BE-HOT', pret.

of Behight. [Obs.]

BE-HOVE',

and its derivatives. See Behoove.

BE-HOWL', v.i. [be and howl.]

To howl at. [Not used.] Shak.

BE'ING, n.

1. Existence; as, God is the author of our being. In God we live, and move, and have our being. Acts xvii.
2. A particular state or condition. [This is hardly a different sense.]
3. A person existing; applied to the human race.
4. An immaterial, intelligent existence, or spirit. Superior beings, when of late they saw / A mortal man unfold all nature's law. Pope.
5. An animal; any living creature; as, animals are such beings, as are endowed with sensation and spontaneous motion.

BE'ING, ppr. [See Be.]

Existing in a certain state. Man, being in honor, abideth not. Ps. xlix.

BE-JADE', v.t. [be and jade.]

To tire. [Not used.] Milton.

BE-JAPE', v.t.

To laugh at; to deceive. [Not used.] Chaucer.

BE-JES'U-IT, v.t.

To initiate in Jesuitism. Milton.

BE-KISS', v.t. [be and kiss.]

To kiss or salute. [Not in use.] Jonson.

BE-KNAVE', v.t. [be and knave.]

To call knave. [Not used.] Pope.

BE-KNOW', v.t. [be and know.]

To acknowledge. [Not used.] Chaucer.

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.