beset

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɪˈsɛt/ UK /bɪˈsɛt/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to trouble or harass persistently; to surround

The expedition was beset by storms from the very start.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to trouble or harass... harass plague afflict trouble surround besiege assail

Opposites

relieve aid

Word family

Derived forms besetmentbesetting

Related forms set

Etymology

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

# 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

beset

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback