Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BE-SET', v.t. [pret. and pp. beset. Sax. besettan, to place, of be and settan, to set; D. bezetten; Ger. besetzen. See Set.]

1. To surround; to inclose; to hem in; to besiege; as we are beset with enemies; a city is beset with troops. Hence,
2. To press on all sides, so as to perplex; to entangle, so as to render escape difficult or impossible. Adam sore beset replied. – Milton.
3. To waylay. – Shak.
4. To fall upon. – Spenser.