bestow

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɪˈstoʊ/ UK /bɪˈstəʊ/ See IPA manual

Freq #18671

Meanings

1

verb
To give something, especially an honour or a gift, to someone.

The committee decided to bestow an honorary degree on her.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to give something,... confer impart

Word family

Forms bestowedbestowerbestowingbestows

Derived forms bestowablebestowagebestowalbestowedbestowerbestowingbestowmentmisbestowrebestowunbestowed

Related forms misstowedstowstowablestowagestowawaystowerstowingunstow

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- (“…

*steh₂- Proto-Indo-European bestowen Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# bestow

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /bɪˈstoʊ/
**IPA (UK):** /bɪˈstəʊ/
**Frequency rank:** 18671

## Meanings
1. To give something, especially an honour or a gift, to someone.

## Examples
- The committee decided to bestow an honorary degree on her.

## Derived Forms
- bestowable
- bestowage
- bestowal
- bestowed
- bestower
- bestowing
- bestowment
- misbestow
- rebestow
- unbestowed

## Related Forms
- misstowed
- stow
- stowable
- stowage
- stowaway
- stower
- stowing
- unstow

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *steh₂-
- Root: bestowen

## 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- (“…

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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