be

This ROOT-WORD is the Prefix BE. It is a word that has less meaning than it has personality. It does not change the meaning of a word, but it makes the word richer, stronger and fuller than the Root’s own meaning. No. 6 means to blockade. No.9 means to be covered with complete darkness, no light of a star. No.15 means to make filthy all over. BE makes everything INTENSE.


1. Bedeck : BE deck (be dek’) v.

To cover up; dress with finery


2. Bedight : BE dight (be dite’) v.

To adorn; as, Spenser’s line; “With woody moss bedight.”


3. Beguile : Be guile (be gile’) v.

To bewitch; to deceive


4. Behavior : BE havior (be hay’ vyer) n.

One’s manner; one’s conduct


5. Belabor : BE labor (be lay’ bor) v.

To beat soundly; to thwack


6. Beleaguer : BE leaguer (be lee’ ger) v.

To blockade; to surround; as, with an army


7. Beloved : BE loved (be luvd’) adj.

Loved with great intensity


8. Bemused : BE mused (by myuzd’) adj.

Carried away in a dream state


9. Benighted : BE knighted (b nite’ ed) adj.

Overtaken by night or darkness


10. Bewail : BE wail (be wale’) v.

To weep for; express great sorrow; mourn


11. Behoove : BE hoove (be huve’) v.

To be necessary or proper; as, it behooves us to help others


12. Bequest : Be quest (be kwest’) n.

A gift; a legacy


13. Berate : BE rate (be rate’) v.

To scold loudly; harshly


14. Bestow : BE stow (be stoe’) v.

To give; to grant; as, the bestow blessings


15. Besmirch : BE smirch (be smirch’) v.

To make filthy; bespatter; befoul


16. Bereave : BE reave (be reve’) v.

To rob; deprive cruelly


17. Bestride : BE stride (be stride’) v.

To stride across; as, " He doth bestride the world …."


18. Betroth : BE troth (be troth’) v.

To become engaged; affiance


19. Betoken : Be token (be toe’ ken) v.

To forewarn; as, a dark cloud may betoken a storm

Etymology Index

From Be to HOME PAGE