bestow

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to present or grant

   The committee decided to bestow an honorary certificate to the hard working person.

2. 2
   verb

   to give as a gift

   They bestowed upon me a life time membership to the rib shack around the street.

3. 3
   verb

   to confer a quality on

   The parents bestowed their child with a good nature.

4. 4
   verb

   To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use.

   All the voide time, that is betwene the huores of woorke ſlepe and meat, that they be ſuffered to beſtowe, euerye man as he lyketh beſte hym ſelfe.

5. 5
   verb

   To impart (something) gratuitously; to present (something) to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; to confer, to give, to accord; to render.

   I bestow upon you the name of Peter.

6. 6
   verb

   To place or put (someone or something) somewhere or in a certain situation; to dispose of.

   The diuell take the one partie, / And his dam the other, / And theyle be both beſtovved. / I haue endured more for their ſakes, / Then man is able to endure.

7. 7
   verb

   To deposit (something) for safekeeping; to lay up (something) in store; to stow.

   The londes of a certayne man brought forth frutes plenteouſly⸝ and he thought in hym ſilfe ſayinge: whatt ſhall I do⸝ becauſe I have noo roume where to beſtowe my frutes?

8. 8
   verb

   To provide (someone or oneself) with accommodation; to find quarters for (someone or oneself); to lodge, to quarter.

   The ſixteene daye of May they were al beſtovved abourd in Spaniſh ſhippes furniſhed with victual, & other neceſſaries for that iourney.

Etymology

PIE word *h₁epi The verb is derived from Middle English bestowen, bistouen, bistowen (“to give, bestow; to apply (something to something else); to arrange or have control over (something); to place (someone) in a position; to use (for some purpose); (reflexive) to find (oneself) a place to live or shelter”) [and other forms], from bi- (prefix forming verbs, often with a completive, figurative, or intensive meaning) + stouen, stowen (“to pack (cargo) in a ship, stow; to place (someone) in a certain position; to provide quarters for, lodge; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“…