Word: bestow Part of Speech: verb Etymology: PIE word *h₁epi The verb is derived from Middle English bestowen, bistouen, bistowen (“to give, bestow; to apply (something to something else); to arrange or have control over (something); to place (someone) in a position; to use (for some purpose); (reflexive) to find (oneself) a place to live or shelter”) [and other forms], from bi- (prefix forming verbs, often with a completive, figurative, or intensive meaning) + stouen, stowen (“to pack (cargo) in a ship, stow; to place (someone) in a certain position; to provide quarters for, lodge; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to place; to stand (up)”)). The English word is analysable as be- (intensifying prefix forming verbs) + stow (“to put (something) away in a suitable place; etc.”). The noun is derived from the verb. Pronunciation: /bɪˈstəʊ/, /bɪˈstoʊ/, /bɪˈsto/, /bɪˈstou/ 1. To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use. Labels: transitive Example: All the voide time, that is betwene the huores of woorke ſlepe and meat, that they be ſuffered to beſtowe, euerye man as he lyketh beſte hym ſelfe. Example: [S]ince the voyce / Of moſt ſupreme Authority commands / My abſence: I determine to beſtovv / Some time in learning Languages abroad; […] 2. To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use. Labels: obsolete, specifically, transitive Example: O if I had had time to haue made nevv liueries: I vvoulde haue beſtovved the thouſand pound I borrovved of you, but tis no matter, this poore ſhevv doth better, this doth inferre the zeale I had to ſee him. Example: And thou ſhalt beſtow that money for whatſoeuer thy ſoule lutſeth after, for oxen, or for ſheepe, or for wine, or for ſtrong drinke, or for whatſoeuer thy ſoule deſireth: and thou ſhalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou ſhalt reioyce, thou and thine houſhold. 3. To impart (something) gratuitously; to present (something) to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; to confer, to give, to accord; to render. Labels: transitive Example: I bestow upon you the name of Peter. Example: Medals were bestowed on the winning team. 4. To place or put (someone or something) somewhere or in a certain situation; to dispose of. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: The diuell take the one partie, / And his dam the other, / And theyle be both beſtovved. / I haue endured more for their ſakes, / Then man is able to endure. Example: Moreover I haue […] beſtovved the chiefe grounds, Principles, Rules, and Obſeruations [of heraldry] vnder their proper heads, and manifeſted their vſe by examples of ſpeciall choice, […] 5. To deposit (something) for safekeeping; to lay up (something) in store; to stow. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: The londes of a certayne man brought forth frutes plenteouſly⸝ and he thought in hym ſilfe ſayinge: whatt ſhall I do⸝ becauſe I have noo roume where to beſtowe my frutes? Example: Novv as I am a Chriſtian anſvver me, / In vvhat ſafe place you haue beſtovv'd my monie; / Or I ſhall breake that merrie ſconce of yours / That ſtands on tricks, vvhen I am vndiſpos'd: / VVhere is the thouſand Markes thou hadſt of me? 6. To provide (someone or oneself) with accommodation; to find quarters for (someone or oneself); to lodge, to quarter. Labels: also, archaic, reflexive, transitive Example: The ſixteene daye of May they were al beſtovved abourd in Spaniſh ſhippes furniſhed with victual, & other neceſſaries for that iourney. Example: […] I heare / Macduffe liues in diſgrace. Sir, can you tell / VVhere he beſtovves himſelfe? 7. To behave or conduct (oneself); to acquit. Labels: obsolete, reflexive, transitive Example: Novv therefore vvould I haue thee to my Tutor / (For long agone I haue forgot to court, / Beſides the faſhion of the time is chang'd) / Hovv, and vvhich vvay I may beſtovv my ſelfe / To be regarded in her ſun-bright eye. Example: Hovv might vve ſee Falſtaffe beſtovv himſelf to night in his true colours, and not our ſelues be ſeene? 8. To give (someone or oneself) in marriage. Labels: also, obsolete, reflexive, transitive Example: You ſay, if I bring in your Roſalinde, / You vvill beſtovv her on Orlando heere? Example: I could have bestowed her upon a fine gentleman, who extremely admired her wit, and would have given her a coach and six: […]