Belvoisia trifasciata 
r.il size. 
Belvoisia 
Belvoisia (bel-voi'si-a), it. [NL., named after 
M. Beauvoin, a French scientist.] A genus of 
two-winged flies, of the 
family Tachinidat, com- 
prising numerous gen- 
era, parasitic on other 
insects. They are most diffi- 
cult to distinguish on account 
of the uniformity of their 
somber colors and the simi- 
larity of their structural 
characters. The only species 
of Belvai.iia in the United 
States is exceptional hy the 
beauty of its coloration, the third and fourth abdominal 
joints being bright golden yellow, with only the hind bor- 
ders black. It has been described as B. trifaeciata (Fa- 
hricius), and is parasitic on the green-striped maple-worm, 
Aniaota rubicunda, and allied species. 
belyet, *> t. An old spelling of belie 1 . 
belyvet, adv. An old spelling of bclive 1 . 
Belzebub (bel'ze-bub), n. See Beelzebub. 
bema (be'ma), n.; pi. Itemata (-ma-ta). [Gr. 
ftfiua, a step,"a stage, platform, < fiaivew (-\/ *pa), 
go', = E. come, q. v.] 1. In Gr. antiq., a stage 
or kind of pulpit on which speakers stood when 
addressing an assembly. 
If a man could be admitted as an orator, as a regular 
demagogus, from the popular bema, or hustings, in that 
case he obtained a hearing. De Quincey, Style, iv. 
2. In the Gr. Church, the sanctuary or chan- 
cel; the inclosed space surrounding the altar. 
It is the part of an Oriental church furthest from the front 
or main entrance, originally and usually raised above the 
level of the nave. The holy table (the altar) stands in its 
center, and behind this, near or skirting the rear wall of the 
apse, is the lyntlmmw, or seat for the bishop and clergy. 
Uigger-wasp (Bembex fasci- 
afa), natural size. 
Bema. Typical plan of Byzantine Church, St. Theodore, Athens. 
A D, bema; B E and B' E', parabetnata (S E, prothesis; ff E' , 
diaconicon ) ; C, altar ; D, apse ; E, E', secondary apses ; F F, icono- 
stasis; G, dome and choir ; //.nave; / /', antiparabemata ; J y jf. 
narthex; K, chief entrance ; /., south porch ; M, holy doors, or dwarf 
folding doors, with amphithyra. 
An architectural screen (iconostasis) with a curtain (amphi- 
thyra) at its doors, or, as was the case especially in early 
times, a curtain only, separates the bema from the body 
of the church. On either side of the bema are the para- 
bemata, called respectively the prothenis and the diaconi- 
con. These regularly communicate with the bema, and 
in poor churches often have little more than an indication 
of separation from it. Rubrically they are often counted 
as part of the bema. 
The Jewish type, which, if anywhere, prevails in the 
Eastern Church, requires a fourfold division ; the Holy 
of Holies answering to the bema, the Holy Place to the 
choir, the Court of the Jews to the nave, and that of the 
Gentiles to the narthex. 
J. M. Neale, Eastern Church, i. 177. 
3. A step ; a rough measure of length employed 
by the Greeks and Macedonians when stadia 
were paced off, and not merely estimated by 
shouting. It was considered to be 2j feet, which for this 
purpose are practically identical with English feet. In a 
late form of the Philetsereian (i. e, t Pergamenian) system 
it became as exact measure 2 j feet ; but these feet were 
of the Babylonian cubit, so that the bema was 0.888 meter, 
according to Lepsius. In the later Jewish system, the 
bema appears as two royal cubits, or 1.054 meters. 
bemadt (be-mad'), v. t. [< fee- 1 + mad.'] To 
make mad. 
The patriarch herein did bewitch and bemad Godfrey. 
Fuller, Holy War, ii. 5. 
bemangle (be-mang'gl), v. t. [< be- 1 + mangle 1 . } 
To mangle ; 'tear asunder. Beaumont. [Rare.] 
bemartyr (be-mar'ter), v. t. [< be- 1 + martyr.'} 
To put to death as a martyr. Fuller. 
bemask (be-mask'), v. t. [< be- 1 + mask.'} To 
mask; conceal. Shelton. 
beniata, n. Plural of bema. 
bematist (be'ma-tist), n. [< Gr. /}j/uaTiart/(, 
one who measures by paces, < pT/ftarifctv, mea- 
sure by paces, < J)TJIM(T-), a step, pace.] An 
official road-measurer under Alexander the 
Great and the Ptolemies. See bema, 3. 
bematter (be-mat'er), v. t. [< be- 1 + matter.} 
To smear or cover with matter. Swift. 
bemaul (be-mal'), v. t. [< fee- 1 + maul.} To 
maul or beat severely. Sterne. 
bemaze (be-maz'), . t. [ME. bemasen; < be- 1 
+ maze.} To bewilder. See maze. 
520 
With intellects bemaz'd in endless doubt. 
Cowper, The Task, v. 
Beinbecidae (bem-bes'i-de), n.pl. [NL., prop. 
liemlricida:, < Bembex, prop. Bembix (Bembic-) + 
-ida:} A family of solitary, aculeate or sting- 
bearing liymenopterous insects, resembling 
wasps or bees, and, along with the Sphegidce 
and other kindred families, known as sand- 
wasps. The female excavates cells in the sand, in which 
she deposits, together with her eggs, various larvae or per- 
fect insects stung into insensibility, as support for her 
progeny when hatched. They are very active, fond of the 
nectar of flowers, inhabitants of warm countries, and de- 
light in sunshine. Some species emit an odor like that 
of roses. Bembex is the typical genus. See cut under 
Bembex. Also fiembicidce. 
Bembecinae (bem-be-si'ne), n.pl. [NL., < Bem- 
bex (Bembeo) + -4n(v.} A subfamily of digger- 
wasps, of the family Sphegidce, typified by the 
genus Bcmbex, in which the body is large and 
long, the head large, the labrum long, triangu- 
lar, and exserted, and the legs are short. 
Bembex (bem'beks), n. [NL., prop. Bcmbi.r, < 
Gr. (ti[t[)i (Jk/ifiiK-), a spinning-top, a whirl- 
pool, a buzzing insect; 
prob. imitative.] The 
typical genus of digger- 
wasps of the subfamily 
Bembecince. B. rostrata 
and the American B. 
fasciata (Fabricius) are 
examples. Also Bembix. 
Bembicidae (bem-bis'i- 
de), . pi. Same as Bem- 
becidce. 
Bembidiidae (bem-bi-di'i-de), . pi. [NL., < 
Bembidium + -ida;.} A family of adephagous 
beetles, typified by the genus Bembidium : now 
usually merged in CarabidtB. 
Bembidium (bem-bid'i-um), n. [NL., < Bem- 
bex + dim. -idium.} A genus of minute preda- 
tory caraboid beetles, sometimes forming the 
type of a family Bembidiidce, sometimes placed 
in Carabidce. The species are characterized 
by an ovate body and large eyes. Also Bem- 
bidion. 
Bembix (bem'biks), n. [NL.] 1. Same as 
Bcmbex. 2. A genus of gastropods. Watson, 
1876. 
Bembridge beds. See bed 1 . 
bemet, n. [ME., < AS. beme, byme, a trumpet; 
supposed to be ult. imitative. Cf. boom 1 , bum- 
ble, bomb 1 , Bembex, etc.] A trumpet. 
Of brass they broughten bemes. 
Chaucer, Nun's Priest's Tale, 1. 577. 
bemet, v. [< ME. bemen, < AS. bymian, < byme, 
a trumpet : see beme, n.} I. intrans. To sound 
a trumpet. 
II. trans. To summon with a trumpet. 
bemean ' t, z>. t. [Early mod. E. bemene, < ME. 
bemenen (= OHG. bimeinan, MHG. bemeinen), 
mean; < be- 1 + mean 1 .} To mean; signify; 
inform. 
The croune of thorne that garte me blede, 
Itt be-menei my dignite. York flays, p. 424. 
bemean 2 (be-men'), v. t. [< be- 1 + mean 2 .} To 
make mean; debase; lower: as, to bemean 
one's self by low associations; to bemean hu- 
man nature. [Demean is commonly but incor- 
rectly used in this sense. See demean^.} 
It is a pity that men should . . . bemean themselves by 
defending themselves against charges of which the grand- 
jury of their own heart finds them innocent. 
Max Midler, Biograph. Essays, p. 67. 
I felt quite ashamed that a pal of mine should have 
so bemeaned himself for a few ounces of silver. 
James Payn, Canon's Ward. 
bemercyt (be-mer'si), v. t. [< be- 1 + mercy.} 
To treat witli mercy. 
bemetet (be-mef), v. t. [ME. wanting; < AS. 
bemetan, measure, compare, consider; <. be- 1 + 
mete.} To measure. Shak. [Rare.] 
bemingle (be-ming'gl), v. t. [< be- 1 + mingle.} 
To mingle ; mix. Mir. for Mags. [Rare.] 
bemire (be-mir'), . t. [< be- 1 + mire.} 1. 
To soil or befoul with mire, as in passing 
through muddy or miry places. 
His clothes were somewhat torn and much bemired. 
Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 149. 
2. [Chiefly in the passive.] To sink or stick 
in the mire; be or become bogged. 
Bemired and benighted in the bog. 
Burke, A Regicide Peace. 
Bemired in the deeply rutted roads. 
The Century, XXV. 377. 
bemirement (be-mir'ment), n. [< bemire + 
-ment.} The state of being defiled with mud. 
[Rare.] 
bemist (be-misf), v. t. [< be- 1 + mist.'} To 
cover or involve in or as in mist. 
ben 
How can that judge walk right that is Remitted in his 
way ? Feltham, liesolves, ii. 4. 
bemitered, bemitred (be-mi'tcrd), a. [< be- 1 
+ miter + -cd'' 1 .} Crowned with or wearing a 
miter. <'<irlyl<\ 
bemoan (be-mon'), r. /. [< ME. (with change 
of vowel; cf. moan) bemenen, bimenen, < AS. 
bemienan, bemoan, < be- + mainan, moan : see 
be- 1 and moan.} 1. To lament; bewail; ex- 
press sorrow for: as, to bemoan the loss of a 
son. 2. Reflexively, to bewail one's lot. 
People grieve and betnoan themselves, but it is not half 
so bad with them as they say. Emermn, Experience. 
3f. To pity ; feel or express sympathy with or 
pity for. 
Bastards, ... if proving eminent, are much licmoaned, 
because merely passive in the blemish of their birth. 
Fuller. 
bemoanable (be-mo'na-bl), a. [< bemoan + 
-able.} Capable or worthy of being lamented. 
Sliencood. 
bemoaner (be-mo'ner), n. One who bemoans. 
bemock (be-iiiok'), v. t. [< fee- 1 + mock.} 1. 
To mock repeatedly ; flout. 
Have we not seen him disappointed, bemocked of Des- 
tiny, through long years ? 
Carlylc, Sartor Resartus, p. 111. 
2. To cause to appear mock or unreal; excel 
or surpass, as the genuine surpasses the 
counterfeit. 
Her beams bemocked the sultry main 
Like April hoar-frost spread. 
Coleridge, Anc. Mariner, iv. 
A laugh which in the woodland rang, 
Bemockiny April's gladdest bird. 
Whittier, Bridal of Pcnnacook, iii. 
bemoilt (be-moil'), v. t. [< fee- 1 + moil 1 .} To 
bedraggle ; bemire ; soil or encumber with 
mire and dirt. 
Thou shouldst have heard . . . how she was bemoiled. 
Shak., T. of the S., iv. 1. 
bemoisten (be-moi'sn), . t. [< fee- 1 + moisten.} 
To moisten ; wet. 
bemol (ba'mol), . [< F. lemol, < ML. B molle, 
soft B.] In music, B flat, a half step below B 
natural : the general term in French for a flat 
on any note. 
bemonster (be-mon'ster), v. t. [< fee- 1 + mon- 
ster.} To make monstrous. [Rare.] 
Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame, 
Be-tnonster not thy feature. Shak., Lear, iv. 2. 
bemoralize (be-mor'al-Iz), v. t. [< be- 1 + 
moralize.} To apply to a moral purpose. 
Eclectic Kev. [Rare.] 
bemourn (be-morn'), v. t. [< ME. bemornen, 
bemurnen, < AS. betnurnan (= OS. bemornian), 
< fee- + mnrnan, mourn: see fee- 1 and mourn.} 
To weep or mourn over: as, "women that 
. . . bemourned him," Wyclif, Luke xxiii. 27. 
[Rare.] 
bemuddle (be-mud'l), v. t. [< fee- 1 + muddle.'} 
To confuse ; stupefy. 
The whole subject of the statistics of pauperism is in a 
hopelessly bemuddled condition. A". A. Rev., CXX. 320. 
bemuffle (be-muf'l), v. t. [< fee- 1 + muffle.} To 
wrap up as with a muffler. 
Bemused with the externals of religion. 
Sterne, Sermons, xvii. 
bemuse (be-muz'), '. t. [< fie- 1 + muse 2 ; in 
sense perhaps affected by bemaze. Cf. amuse.} 
To put into a muse or reverie ; confuse ; mud- 
dle; stupefy. 
We almost despair of convincing a Cabinet bemused with 
the notion that danger can only come from France. 
Spectator. 
The archdeacon must have been slightly bemused when 
he denned aristarchy as we have seen. 
F. Hall, Mod. Eng., p. 143, note. 
ben 1 (ben), prep, and adv. [< ME. ben, bene, 
var. of bin, biiine, (. AS. binnan, within: see 
birft.} In, into, or toward the inner apartment 
of a house; in or into the parlor. See feen 1 , n. 
[Prov. Eng. and Scotch.] 
Wi' kindly welcome Jenny brings him ben. 
Burns, Cottar's Sat. Night. 
Ben the house, into the inner apartment, or into the 
apartment or dwelling on the opposite side of the hall or 
passage. 
That she might run ben the house. 
Scott, Guy Mannering, I. xxiii. 
To be far ben with, one, to be on terms of intimacy or 
familiarity with one; be in great honor with one. To 
bring far ben, to treat with great respect and hospitality. 
ben 1 (ben), n. [< feen 1 , adr.} The inner apart- 
ment of a house; the parlor or "room"' of a 
dwelling consisting of a but or outer room, 
used as a kitchen, and a feen or inner room, 
used as a parlor or chamber, access to the ben 
being originally through the but or kitchen. 
