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Glite Dictionary
🎁 To give or allow ✅ To suit or fit
to beteem

to beteem

9.9
To give or allow something to someone
  • verb
  • Archaic
translation icon : otorgar
  • In old literature, kings would beteem gifts upon their loyal subjects.

Examples

  • The king beteemed his blessing upon the knights.

  • May the gods beteem you strength in battle!

  • The poet used the word beteem to mean 'allow' in his verse.

  • No one would beteem such kindness in these harsh times.

  • In old literature, kings would beteem gifts upon their loyal subjects.

  • The king beteemed his blessing to grant safe passage to the travelers.

  • The elders beteemed their wisdom to the next generation.

Synonyms

to grant
vsto beteem
  • Formal
565 3.3

To officially give permission, rights, or money to someone

is an archaic form used in older English rather than modern official terms
to endow
vsto beteem
  • Formal
34 4.9

To give someone a particular quality or ability

is about allowing or permitting as well as giving rather than lasting provision
to bestow
vsto beteem
  • Formal
22 5.3

Give a quality such as charm to someone or something

also means to allow or permit things rather than only giving qualities
to vest
vsto beteem
  • Formal
5 7.0

To give someone a legal right or power so it becomes theirs

is an archaic general term not limited to legal rights or transfers

Antonyms

to deny
423 1.6

To refuse to let someone have something

to prohibit
299 3.3

To officially say that something is not allowed by law

How Permissive

to grant
  • Formal
565 3.3
to beteem
  • Archaic
9.9
to allow
∞ 1.0
to deny
423 1.6
to forbid
211 3.0

Surface Forms

beteem infinitive
beteemed past
beteemed past participle
beteeming present participle
beteems third person singular

Morphology

beteem = teem (opaque) = be + teem

Formally analysable as be- + 'teem', but modern 'teem' has a different sense ('to be full of'), so learners cannot reliably infer the archaic meanings 'allow/grant' or 'befit'.

Etymology

Beteem is an old verb that can be seen as be- plus teem. A helpful way to remember it is to think of be- as 'make' and teem as 'give' or 'grant', so to beteem someone is to allow or bestow something on them.