bə̇kwēth, -ēth, bē- transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English bequethen to say, assign, allot, bequeath, from Old English becwethan, from be- + cwethan to say — more at quoth
1.
a. : to give or leave by will : give by formal declaration so that the thing given passes into ownership of the recipient after the death of the donor : give by testament — used especially of personalty; compare devise
b. : to hand down (as to successors or posterity) : transmit
politicosocial myths bequeathed to us by the 19th century — Ignazio Silone
2. archaic : to consign trusting that the recipient will accept and take care of that which is consigned : entrust , commend
3. obsolete : to assign or make over by formal declaration so as to give the recipient immediate possession : transfer ownership of
Synonyms: see will