Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old English betēon (to cover, surround, enclose, dispose of, bestow, bequeath, impeach, accuse), equivalent to bi- +‎ ten (to go, to draw). Cognate with German beziehen (to obtain, cover, receive, draw), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (bitiuhan, to bestow, draw over, betray).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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biteon (third-person singular simple present biteoth, present participle biteonde, first-/third-person singular past indicative bitogh, past participle bitowen)

  1. (transitive) To draw over (as a covering); cover; veil.
  2. (transitive) To pull or tug at.
  3. (transitive) To employ; spend; bestow (time, pains, etc.)
  4. (transitive) To bring about; manage; arrange.
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