bə̇, bē+ verb
( bethought ; bethought ; bethinking ; bethinks )
Etymology: Middle English bethinken, bethenken, bethenchen, from Old English bethencan, from be- + thencan to think — more at think
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to call to mind : remember
bethink how those of old … clove to their word — Edwin Arnold
b. : to cause (oneself) to call something to mind
he bethought him of his responsibility as head of the house — Mary Webb
2. obsolete
a. : to consider with a view to decision or action : think over
bethink what clemency … they would desire — Francis Bland
b. : to cause (oneself) to consider something with a view to decision or action
may find the grace … to bethink themselves and recover — John Milton
3. : to give (oneself) up to reflection : devote (oneself) to thought
Rip bethought himself a moment — Washington Irving
4. obsolete : to contrive as a result of thought : devise
we bethink a means to break it off — Shakespeare
5. : to bring (oneself) to a conclusion : resolve
has bethought himself of joining profit and pleasure together — Richard Steele
intransitive verb
: to engage in thought : consider
bethink ere thou dismiss us — Lord Byron
Synonyms: see remember