BESET


Meaning of BESET in English

— besetment , n. — besetter , n.

/bi set"/ , v.t., beset, besetting .

1. to attack on all sides; assail; harass: to be beset by enemies; beset by difficulties.

2. to surround; hem in: a village beset on all sides by dense forest.

3. to set or place upon; bestud: a gold bracelet beset with jewels.

4. Naut. to surround (a vessel) by ice, so that control of the helm is lost.

[ bef. 1000; ME besetten, OE besettan. See BE-, SET ]

Syn. 2. encircle, enclose, besiege, beleaguer. 3. stud, decorate, ornament.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .