I. adjective
also be·sted bə̇ˈsted, bē-
Etymology: Middle English bested, bestad, from be- + sted, stad, past participle of steden to place, stead — more at stead
1. archaic : placed, vested
my faith [is] bestead in the love of my own land — W.R.Benét
especially : placed in a difficult or hazardous situation
thank you for sending your knights … when we were really hard bestead — Charles Kingsley
2. archaic : harassed , endangered
II. transitive verb
( besteaded ; bestead ; besteading ; besteads )
Etymology: be- + stead
1. archaic : to be of assistance to : help
so long as they are behoveful, they may bestead each other — Sir Richard Burton
2. archaic : to be useful to : avail