beguile 
beguile (be-gil'), v. t. [< ME. begilen, bcgijlft, 
(= MD. begliijleii), < be- + gilen, guli-ii, guile, 
deceive: see ftc-l anil <///(.] 1. To delude with 
guile ; deceive ; impose on by artifice or craft. 
The serpent bi'giiili-d me. and I did eat. (!en. iii. 13. 
By expectation every day beguiTd, 
Dupe of to-morrow even from a child. 
Courier, My Mother's Picture. 
2. To elude or check by artifice or craft; foil. 
'Twas yet some comfort, 
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage, 
And frustrate his proud will. Shak., Lear, iv. 6. 
3. To deprive of irksomeness or unpleasant- 
ness by diverting the mind; render unfelt; 
cause to pass insensibly and pleasantly ; while 
away. 
1 would brauile 
The tedious day with sleep, tihak., Hamlet, iii. 2. 
Chiefs of elder Art! 
Teachers of wisdom ! who could once betju'de 
My tedious hours. Roseoe, To my Books. 
4. To transform as if by charm or guile ; charm. 
Till to a smile 
Tlie goodwife's tearful face he did benttilr. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, II. 225. 
5. To entertain as with pastimes; amuse. 
The tales 
With which this day the children she beguiled 
She glean'd from Breton grandames when a child. 
M. Arnold, Tristram and Iseult, iii. 
To beguile Of, to deprive of by guile or pleasing artifice. 
The writer who beguiles of their tediousncss the dull 
hours of life. Everett, Orations, I. 302. 
= Syn. 1. Cheat, mislead, inveigle. 3-5. Amuse, Divert, 
etc. (see amuse); cheer, solace. 
beguilement (be-gil'ment), . [< beguile + 
-ment.] The act of beguiling; the state of be- 
ing beguiled. 
beguiler (be-gi'16r), n. One who or that which 
beguiles or'deceives. 
beguilingly (be-gi'liug-li), adv. In a manner 
to beguile or deceive. 
beguiltyt (bf-gil'ti), v. t. [< fee- 1 + guilty.] To 
render guilty ; burden with a sense of guilt. 
By easy commutations of public penance for a private 
pecuniary mulct [thou] dost at once beguilty thine own 
conscience with sordid bribery. 
Bp. Sanderson, Sermons, p. 275. 
Beguin, Beguine (beg'in; sometimes, as mod. 
F., ba-gaii', m., -gen , f.), . [(1) Beguin, Be- 
guine, fern. : early mod. E. also begin, begine, 
beghine, beggin, bigin, biggayne, < ME. begyne, 
bygynne, < OF. beguine, mod. F. beguine = Sp. 
Pg. beguina = It. beghina, bighina (MD. beghijne, 
D. begijn, LG. and G. begine), < ML. beghina, 
begina, beggina, beguina, bigina, etc. (cf. E. big- 
gin 1 , from the same source). (2) Beguin, masc., 
< OF. beguin, mod. F. beguin = Sp. Pg. begiiino 
= It. beghino, bighino, < ML. beghinus, beginus, 
508 
beguinage (beg'in-aj, or, as mod. F., ba-ge- 
nii/.h'), n. [F. hegu'inage, OF. beguinage (> ML. 
brghiiiitgium), < beguine, a Beguine. See Jie- 
/jiiiii and -age.] A community of Beguiues. 
A be^uimiiie usually consists of a large walled inclosure, 
containing a number of small detached houses, each in- 
habited by one or two Beguines ; there are also some com- 
mon houses, especially for the novices and younger mem- 
ber* of tha community. In the center is the church, where 
certain religious offices are performed in common. Each 
Beguine keeps possession of her own property, and nt:ty 
support herself from it, or from the work of her hands, 
or by serving others in their houses. They are free to 
leave at any time, and take only simple vows of chastity 
and obedience during residence. Pious women may als. >, 
under certain restrictions, rent houses and live inside the 
ini-losure without formally joining the community. Such 
establishments are now chiefly met with in Belgium ; the 
immense one near Ghent, built by the Duke of Arcnibem 
In 1874, is the finest example, and one of the most recent. 
Beguine, See Beguin. 
begum 1 (be-gum'), v. t. ; pret. and pp. bcgummed, 
ppr. begumming. [< be- 1 + gum*.] To daub 
or cover with gum. Swift. 
begum 2 (be'gum), M. [Anglo-Ind., also 6ee- 
gum, begauin, < Hind, begam (cf. Pers. baigim, 
a lady), < Turki bigim, a princess, fern, of big, 
bik = Turk, beg, beu, a prince : see bey 1 .] The 
title of a Hindu princess or lady of high rank. 
begun (be-gun'). Past participle and some- 
times preterit of begin. 
begunk (be-gungk'), v. t. [Also spelled bc- 
gink, perhaps a nasalized variation of equiv. 
Sc. begeck, q. v. See also remark under beflum.] 
To befool; deceive; balk; jilt. [Scotch.] 
Whose sweetheart has begutiked him. 
Blackimud's May., VIII. 420. 
begunk (be-gungk'), n. [< begunk, v.] An 
illusion; a trick; a cheat. [Scotch.] 
If I havena' gien Inchgrabbit and Jamie Howie abonnic 
begunk, they ken themsel's. Scott, Waverley, II. xxxv. 
behad (be-had'), a. [Contr. of Sc. 'behald = 
E. beholden.] Beholden; indebted. [Scotch.] 
behalf (be-haf), . [< ME. behalve, bihalve, in 
the phrase OH (or upon, or in) behalve, in be- 
half, incorrectly used for on halve (< AS. on 
healfe, on the side or part of), owing to confu- 
sion with ME. behalve, behalven, behalves, adv. 
and prep., by the side of, near, < AS. be healfe, 
by the side: see 6e-2, by 1 , and half, n. Cf. be- 
hoof.] 1. Advantage, benefit ; interest, or de- 
fense (of somebody or something). 
In the behalf of his mistress's beauty. Sir P. Sidney. 
I was moved to speak in behalf of the absent. 
Smnner, Prison Discipline. 
2f. Affair; cause; matter. 
In an unjust behalf. Shale., 1 Hen. IV., i. 3. 
[Always governed by the preposition in, on, 
or upon. See note under behoof. ]~ In this or 
that behalf, in respect of, or with regard to, this or that 
matter. 
behapt (be-hap'), r. *. [< foe- 1 + hap 1 .] To hap- 
beique, bieque, stammering ; of unknown origin), 
a priest of Liege, who founded the sisterhood. 
See also Beghard. The origin of the name was 
not generally known, and the forms varied, 
leading to many etymological conjectures. 
The connection with E. beggar and beg 1 is per- 
haps real; in the sense of 'hypocrite' and 
'bigot' (as in It. beghino), the word was later 
confused with bigot, q. v.] 1. A name given 
to the members of various religious communi- 
ties of women who, professing a life of poverty 
and self-denial, went about in coarse gray 
clothing (of undyed wool), reading the Scrip- 
tures and exhorting the people. They originated 
in the twelfth or thirteenth century, and formerly flour- 
ished in Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy; and 
communities of the name still exist in Belgium. See be- 
guinage. [Now generally written Beguine.] 
And Dame Abstinence streyned, 
Toke on a robe of kamelyne, 
And gan her graithe [dress] as a bygynne. 
Rom. of the Rose, 1. 7866. 
Wanton wenches and beguins. World of Wonders, 1608. 
The wife of one of the ex-burgomasters and his daugh- 
ter, who was a beguin, went by his side as he was led to 
execution. Motley, Dutch Republic, II. 442. 
2. [Only Beguin.] A member of a community 
of men founded on the same general principle 
of life as that of the Beguines (see 1). They be- 
came infected with various heresies, especially with sys- 
tems of illuminism, which were afterward propagated 
among the communities of women. They were condemned 
by Pope John XXII. in the early part of the fourteenth 
century. The faithful Beguins joined themselves in num- 
bers with the different orders of friars. The sect, gener- 
ally obnoxious and the object of severe measures, had 
greatly diminished by the following century, but con- 
tinued to exist till about the middle of the sixteenth. Also 
called Beghard. [These names have been frequently used 
as common nouns, without capitals.] 
That is the greatest shame, and foulest scorne, 
Which unto any knight behapiien may. 
Spenser, F. Q., V. xi. 52. 
behatet, v. t. [ME. ; < 6e-i + nafe.] To hate ; 
detest. Chaucer. 
behave (be-hav'), -. ; pret. and pp. behaved, 
ppr. behaving. [< late ME. behaven, restrain, 
refl. behave (see first quot.), < be- 1 + have 
(which thus compounded took the full inflec- 
tions (pret. rarely behad and irreg. beheft) and 
developed reg. into the mod. pron. hav). The 
word is formally identical with AS. behabban, 
hold, surround, restrain (= OS. bihebbian, hold, 
surround, = OHG. bihabeit, MHG. behaben, hold, 
take possession of), < be, about, + habban, have, 
hold: see be- 1 and hare.] I. trans. It. To gov- 
ern ; manage ; conduct ; regulate. 
To Florence they can hur kenne, 
To lerne hur to behave hur among men. 
Le Bone Florence, 1. 1567. 
He did behave his anger ere 'twas speut. 
Shak., T. of A., iii. 5. 
[The old editions read behoove va this passage.] 
2. With a reflexive pronoun, to conduct, 
comport, acquit, or demean, (a) In gome speci- 
fied way. 
Those that behaved theinselves manfully. 2 Mac. ii. 21. 
We behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. 
2 Thes. iii. 7. 
(6) Absolutely, in a commendable or proper 
way; well or properly: as, behave yourself ; they 
will noc behave themselves. 3f. To employ or 
occupy. 
Where ease abownds yt's eath to doe amis : 
But who his limbs with labours, and his mynd 
Behaves with cares, cannot so easy mis. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. iii. 40. 
behavior 
II. iiitrann. [The reflexive pronoun omitted.] 
To act in any relation ; have or exhibit a mode 
of action or conduct : used of persons, and also 
of things having motion or operation, (a) In 
a particular manner, as specified : as, to be/tart 
well or ill; the ship behaves well. 
But he was wiser and well beheft. 
B. Jonson, Love's Welcome at Welbeck. 
Electricity uehanx like an incompressible fluid. 
Attiiiiam, tr. of Mascart and Joubert, I. 110. 
(b) Absolutely, in a proper manner: as, why 
do you not behave f 
behaved (be-lmvd'), J>. >i. Mannered; conduct- 
ed : usually with some qualifying adverb : as, 
a well-oe/mrerf person. 
Gather by him, as he is bchat-\l, 
If 't be the affliction of his love, or no, 
That thus he surfers for. Shak., Hamlet, iii. 1. 
Why, I take the Kreiich-Mutwd gentleman. 
B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, v. 2. 
A very pretty behaved gentleman. 
Sheridan, The Rivals, v. 1. 
behavior, behaviour (be-hav 'yor), n. [The 
latter spelling is usual in England ; early mod. 
E. behavoiire, behaviov, behavier, behaviour, be- 
haver, beharor, behavour, < behave + -oure, -iour, 
-ior, appar. in simulation of havior, harimir, 
Jiavour, var. of haver for aver, possession, hav- 
ing (see aver?), of F. origin. In poetry some- 
times havior, which may be taken as formed 
directly from have; cf. Sc. have, behave, hav- 
ing*, behavior.] 1. Manner of behaving, whe- 
ther good or bad; conduct; mode of acting; 
manners; deportment: sometimes, when used 
absolutely, implying good breeding or proper 
deportment. 
Some men's behaviour is like a verse wherein every syl- 
lable is measured. 
Bacon, Essays, Of Ceremonies and Respects. 
A gentleman that is very singular in his behnrimir. 
2. Figuratively, the manner in which anything 
acts or operates. 
The behaviour of the nitrous salts of the amines is 
worthy of attention. Austen-Pinner, Org. Chem., p. 46. 
The phenomena of electricity and magnetism were re- 
duced to the same category; and the behaviour of the 
magnetic needle was assimilated to that of a needle sub- 
jected to the influence of artificial electric currents. 
//. Spencer, Prin. of Psychol. 
3f. The act of representing another person; 
the manner in which one personates the char- 
acter of another; representative character. 
[Very rare, possibly unique. Knight, however, believes 
that the word is used here in its natural sense, that is, 
the manner of having or conducting one's self.] 
King John. Now, say, Chatillon, what would France 
with us? 
Chat.. Thus, after greeting, speaks the king of France, 
In my behaviour, to the majesty, 
The borrow'd majesty, of England here. 
Shak., K. John, i. 1. 
Behavior as heir (law Latin, gestio pro hcerede), in Scots 
lau', a passive title, by which an heir, by intromission with 
his ancestor's heritage, incurs a universal liability for his 
debts and obligations. During good behavior, as long 
as one remains blameless in the discharge of one s duties 
or the conduct of one's life : as, an office held during gooit 
behavior ; a convict is given certain privileges during good 
behavior. On one's behavior or good behavior, (a) 
Behaving or bound to behave with a regard to conven- 
tional decorum and propriety. [Colloq.] (b) In a state of 
probation ; liable to be called to account in case of mis- 
conduct 
Tyrants themselves are upon their behaviour to a su- 
perior power. Sir R. L'Estrange, Fables. 
= SyH. 1. Carriage, Behavior, Conduct, Deportment, De- 
meanor, bearing, manner, manners, all denote primarily 
outward manner or conduct, but naturally are freely ex- 
tended to internal states or activities. Carriage, the way 
of carrying one's self, may be mere physical attitude, or it 
may be personal manners, as expressing states of mind : 
we speak of a haughty or noble carriage, but not ordi- 
narily of an ignoble, cringing, or base carriage. Behavior 
is the most general expression of one's mode of acting ; it 
also refers particularly to comparatively conspicuous ac- 
tions and conduct. Conduct is more applicable to actions 
viewed as connected into a course of life ; especially to ac- 
tions considered with reference to morality. Deportment 
is especially behavior in the line of the proprieties or duties 
of life: as, Mr. Turveydrop was a model of deportment; 
the scholars' rank depends partly upon their deportment. 
Demeanor is most used for manners as expressing charac- 
ter; it is a more delicate word than the others, and is 
generally used in a good sense. We may speak of lofty 
or gracious carriage; good, bad, wise, foolish, modest, con- 
ceited behavior; exemplary conduct; grand, modest, cor- 
rect deportinent ; quiet, refined demeanor. 
Nothing can be more delicate without being fantasti- 
cal, nothing more flnn and based in nature and sentiment, 
than the courtship and mutual carriage of the sexes [in 
England). Emerson, Eng. Traits, p. 112. 
Men's behaviour should be like their apparel, not too 
strait or point-device, but free for exercise or motion. 
Bacon, Essays, liii. 
It is both more satisfactory and more safe to trust to 
the conduct of a party than their professions. 
Ames, Works, II. -214. 
