beset C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes US /bɪˈsɛt/ UK /bɪˈsɛt/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to trouble or harass persistently; to surround The expedition was beset by storms from the very start. Verb forms Verb forms are not available for this word yet. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to trouble or harass... harassplagueafflicttroublesurroundbesiegeassail ↔ Opposites relieveaid Word family Derived forms besetmentbesetting Related forms set Etymology AI details From Old English besettan ('to surround, set around'), from be- ('around') + settan ('to set'). besettan Old English settan Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Actions & Processes External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # beset **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /bɪˈsɛt/ **IPA (UK):** /bɪˈsɛt/ ## Meanings 1. to trouble or harass persistently; to surround ## Examples - The expedition was beset by storms from the very start. ## Synonyms - harass - plague - afflict - trouble - surround - besiege - assail ## Antonyms - relieve - aid ## Derived Forms - besetment - besetting ## Related Forms - set ## Roots and Affixes - Root: besettan - Root: settan ## Etymology From Old English besettan ('to surround, set around'), from be- ('around') + settan ('to set'). ## AI Etymology Beset comes from Old English besettan ('to surround, set around'), from be- ('around') + settan ('to set'). The historical trail runs through Old English besettan and Old English settan. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means to trouble or harass persistently; to surround. Derived formations include besetment, besetting; related forms include set. ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown