US /bɪˈstɝ/ UK /bɪˈstɜː/
verb Freq #138155

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    usually bestir oneself: to begin acting or moving with energy after a period of inactivity

    We must bestir ourselves if we hope to finish before nightfall.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · usually bestir oneself: to... rousestirget movingspring into action
Opposites
idlerestremain inactive
Word family
Forms bestirredbestirring
Derived forms bestirredbestirring
Related forms stirastirrouse

Etymology

From Middle English bestyrien and Old English bestyrian, formed from be- + stir. The prefix makes the action intensive or transitive. Although the Old English verb could mean 'heap up,' the surviving construction bestir oneself means to rouse oneself into energetic action.

Topics

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