berwick 
fliese the jurors of the Iret are rtiost-n ; and tiy them the 
|irarpi>iitii.s or ^r;ivr. and the bedel. 
HtUlto, I'lin-t. Hist., I. I'-ll. 
berycid (ber'i-sid), n. A Huh of the family Ilinj- 
I'iilii'. Also '/( ri/rn/il. 
Berycidae (be-r'is'i-do), . i>t. [XL., < />'<///./ 
(Itrri/c-) + -iiln'.] A I'iimiiy of aoanthoptorygian 
fishes, of which Beryxla the typical genus. Viu->- 
ing limits have been assigned to it, (n) In limithcr's sys- 
CauMffii 
tern it Is the only family of the 7,V; >/,,/,,. (I,) in dill's 
system it is limited to llt'i-in-oi'l'-u, with a single dorsal Hi) 
having few. spines ill front, and ventral fins with many sort 
rays anil moderate spines. It inelmles tilt! genera Beryl, 
.1 i/ujj/i^HtNtfi; Ctiidoli'^i*. and otlH-tx. 
beryciform (be-ris'i-f&rm), a. Having the 
characters of or pertaining to the lieryciformes. 
Beryciformes (be-ris-i-for'mez), n. pi. [NL., 
< Jit'i-i/j- (Ili-i-i/f-) + L. forma, shape.] In iclilh., 
in Gunther's system of classification, the second 
division of the order Acanthoptcrygii, character- 
ized by a compressed oblong body, a head with 
large muciferous cavities covered with thin 
skin only, and the ventral fins thoracic with 
one spine and more than five soft rays (in Mo- 
nocentris with only two). 
berycoid (ber'i-koid), a. and n. I. a. Pertain- 
ing to the superfamily Herycoidea or family 
Beruciilw. 
II. . Same as beryi-iil. 
Berycoidea (ber-i-koi'de-a), n. pi. [NL., < Be- 
ri/j- (Beryc-) + -oidea. ] 'A superfamily of acan- 
thopterygian fishes having nearly the same 
limits as the group lieryciformes, and including 
the families Berycidce, Monocentridce, Stephano- 
beryciilte, and Holoceiitridte. 
beryl (ber'il), n. [Early mod. E. beril, berel, ber- 
rel, etc., < ME. beryl, beril, berel, < OF. beril, < 
L. beryllHS, berillus, < Gr. fijipvkiai;, beryl, per- 
haps < Skt. vaidtirya (with lingual d), beryl. Cf. 
Ar. Pers. ballur, bellaur, crystal.] A colorless, 
bluish, pinkish, yellow, or more commonly 
green mineral, occurring in hexagonal prisms. 
The preeious emerald is a variety which owes its beauty 
of color to the presence of a small amount of chromium. 
See emerald. Aquamarine is a pale-green transparent va- 
riety, also used as a gem, though not highly prized. Beryl 
is a silicate of aluminium and beryllium (glucinum). The 
best beryls are found in Brazil and Ceylon, and in Transbai- 
kalia and elsewhere in Siberia. Beryls occur also in many 
parts of the United States, especially in the New Eng- 
land States and North Carolina ; the latter State has af- 
forded some good emeralds. 
beryllia(be-ril'i-a),. [NL.,< beryllium.] Same 
as ill Hi-inn. 
Beryllian (be-ril'ian), n. One of a sect found- 
ed in the third century by Beryllus, bishop of 
Bostra in Arabia, who taught that Christ was 
non-existent previous to his incarnation, and 
that at his birth a portion of the divine nature 
entered into him. 
berylline (ber'i-lin), a. [< beryl + -ine 1 .] Like 
a beryl ; of a light- or bluish-green color. 
beryllium (be-ril'i-um), n. [NL.,< Gr. /3t/pvMu>v, 
dim. of /JiipvhkK, beryl.] Same as glucinum. 
berylloid (ber'i-loid), n. [< beryl + -old.] A 
solid consisting of two twelve-sided pyramids 
placed base to base: so called because the 
planes of this form are common in crystals of 
beryl. 
Berytidae (be-rit'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Bcrytus 
+ -idis.] A family of heteropterous insects, 
containing the most aberrant bugs of the series 
Coreoidea. 
BerytUS (be-ri'tus), n. [NL.] A genus of he- 
mipterous insects, typical of the family Be- 
rytidce. 
Beryx (ber'iks), n. [NL.] A genus of percoid 
fishes, typical of the family Berycidce. 
berzelianite (ber-ze'lian-it), n. [< Berzelian (< 
Iterzelius, a celebrated Swedish chemist, 1779- 
1848) + -ite 2 .] A rare selenide of copper, found 
in thin incrustations of a silver-white color. 
berzeliite (ber-ze'li-3t), . [< BerzeUus (see 
berzelianite) + -ict 2 .] An arseniate of calci- 
um, magnesium, and manganese occurring in 
( From VioMet-le-Duc's " Diet, du 
Mobitier fran^ais." } 
631 
honey-yellow masses, also less frequently in 
isometric minerals. 
berzeline (ber'ze-lin), . [< lirr:i-li>n< (sec In >- 
ilinnili-) + -<M2.] 1. The copper solenide 
usually called In / iliunili-. 2. A name early 
given to the mineral Imiiyiie. 
bes (lies), ;/. [L., rarely IK ssi* iln-xx-), < hi-, two-, 
+ it* (ana-), as, unit : sec .vl. ] In Hum. nn '/'"'- 
n;///, two thirds of a unit or eight twelfths of an 
as; especially, eight cyathi or two thirds .if 
a soxtarius; also, the name of a small copper 
coin. Also liix.ii.i. 
besa (be'sii), it. [Heb.] A measure of capacity 
tin ntioncd in rabbinical writings, equal to about 
one sixth of a Tinted States pint. 
besabol (lies'a-bol), n. [Ar.] A fragrant res- 
inous balsam obtained from a burseraceous 
tree, I'minni/i/iura Icn/iif, of the Somali country 
in eastern Africa. It was formerly called A'.irf imiim, 
tin/i-i-li, and differs from true myrrh ehietly in its odor. 
Also f>/*.*ir/.>,f. 
besagne (be-sftn'), n. [OP. besangc (Roque- 
fort), a piece, bit; perhaps same as OP. Ix-smit, 
bezant: see bezant.] In medieval armor, a 
round plate protecting the interval between 
two pieces of plate-armor, as at the knee-joint 
or elbow-joint. During the period from the first In- 
troilnetion of plate in the curliest rerebrace to the enni- 
plete suit of steel (nearly a century and a half), the protec- 
tion of these joints was one of the most dimcnlt problems, 
and the use of the roundel of steel (easy to forge and to 
attach), to protect the outer side of the elbow or K nee. was 
almost universal ; if it disappeared for a few years, it was 
only to come into use again. See roundel. 
besague (bes'a-gu), . [OF., also bisaigve, F. 
besaigue = Pr! bezagudo, < L. bis, double, + 
acuta, aciilHn, 
pointed, sharp: 
see iiin- and 
acute' and cf. 
E. twibill.] In 
medieval antiq. : 
(a) A two- 
edged or two- 
pointed wea- 
pon, especial- 
ly a sort of 
pick having 
one short point B <= sa K" !S 
and one blunt 
or four-pointed head ; a variety of the martel- 
de-fer (which see), (b) A carpenter's tool with 
perhaps an ax-blade on one side and an adz- 
blade on the other. 
besaint (be-sanf), v. t. [< fte-l + saint.'] To 
make a saint of. 
Their canonizing . . . and bemintiitg themselves. 
Hammond, Works, IV. ix. 
besant. w. See bezant. 
bes-antler, . See bez-antter. 
besaylet, n. [ME., < OP. besayel, besaiol (F. 
bisaieul), a great-grandfather, < bes-, bis- (< L. 
bis, twice) 4- ayel, aiol, aieul, grandfather: see 
bis- and ayle.] A great-grandfather Writ of 
besayle, in old law, a writ by which a great-grandchild, 
wrongfully excluded from an ancestor's property, vindi- 
cated his or her claim to it. 
bescatter (be-skat'er), v. t. [< be- 1 + scatter.] 
To scatter over. 
With flowres bescattered. Spenser, F. Q., IV. xi. 46. 
The battlemented plae-beicattmd ridges on the further 
side. The Century, XXVII. 39. 
bescorn (be-sk6rn'), v. t. [< &c-i + scorn.] To 
treat with scorn ; mock at. 
Then was he bemorned thatonely should have been hon- 
oured in all things. Chaucer, Parson's Tale. 
bescratch (be-skrach'), v. t. [< be- 1 + scratch.] 
To scratch : 'tear with the nails. Spenser, F. 
Q., III. v. 3. 
bescrawl (be-skral'), v. t. [< be- 1 + scrawl.] 
To scrawl; scribble over. 
So far is it from the kenne of these wretched projectors 
of ours that bescraull their Pamflets every day with new 
formes of government for our Church. 
Milton, Church-Government, L 1. 
bescreen (be-skren'), v. t. [< be- 1 + screen.] 
To cover with a screen, or as with a screen ; 
shelter ; conceal. 
Besmened in night. Shale., E. and J., ii. 2. 
bescribble (be-skrib'l), v. t. [< be- 1 + scribble.] 
To scribble over. 
Bescribbled with a thousand trifling impertinences. 
Milton, Divorce, ii. 12. 
bescumbert (be-skum'ber), v. t. [Also bescum- 
mer, < be- 1 +' scumber or scummer.] To dis- 
charge ordure upon; befoul; besmear. Mar- 
ston. 
Did Block bescuwber 
Statute's white suit with the parchment lace there? 
B. Jongon, Staple of News, v. 2. 
beset 
A critic that all the- world '***".< 
With satirical humours and lyrical numlicrs. 
/;. Jonton, I'octaster, v. 1. 
beSCUtcheon (be-skm-h'on). r. t. [< hr-l + 
xriiti-litiiH.} TO orilllllient with a si'lllelieon: 
as. " In xriifi-lii inn il and betiigned." I'linrrhill. 
The Chiist. iv. 
beSCet (be-se'), F. [< .MK. /., hisum, him-im. 
< AS. hixniii. locjk, look about (=<IS. him linn. 
OFries. hi.iin =r(lotll. hiaililiirilill, < III'- + xii'in. 
see: see In-- 1 and tu-r 1 .] I. triinx. 1. To look 
at; see. 2. To look to; see to; attend to: ar- 
range. 3. Kellexively, to look about one's self ; 
look to one's self. 
II. iiitrunx. To look about; look. 
beseech (be-sech'), r. I. ; pret. and ].]). hi-mmi/lil, 
ppr. liiaiii'liiini. [Kiirly mod. E. (north.) al-o 
beseek, < ME\ 6 </, liimrlu-n, also IM-.II/:I-II 
(not in AS.) (=OFries. l,i.n l:u = 1). In :IH-/:<-H = 
OHG. Iriyuiii-linii, Mild. IHXHIM-III-II. (i. In siirlirii 
= Sw. bcsiika = Dan. l>i-.iiii/<-, visit, go to see), < 
be- + sefon, seek: see be- 1 and xci'k.] 1. To 
entreat; supplicate; implore; ask or pray with 
urgency: followed by a personal object. 
I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and K, nil. 
ness of Christ. iH'.ir. x. 1. 
I do bi'*i'i-rh you 
(I'hielly, that I niiwht set it in my prayers), 
What is your name'.' .S'/i/,.. Tempest, ill. 1. 
2. To beg eagerly for; solicit: followed by 
the thing solicited. 
But Eve ... at his feet 
Fell humble ; and, embracing them, betouqht 
His peace. MUton, P. L, x. 912. 
His sad eyes did brneech 
Some look from hers, so blind to him, so blind ! 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, II. 297. 
= Syn. Ask, Request, Bey, etc. (see ask), plead for or with, 
petition, conjure, appeal to. 
beseecht (be-sech'), n. [< beseech, v.] A re- 
quest: as, "such submiss beseeches," Fletcher 
(mill others), Bloody Brother, iv. 2. 
beseecher (be-se'cher), . One who beseeches, 
beseechingly (be-se'ching-li), adv. In a be- 
seeching manner. 
beseechingness (be-se'ching-nes), n. The state 
or quality of being beseeching or earnestly so- 
licitous. George Eliot. 
beseechment (be-sech'ment), . [< beseech + 
-ment.] The act of beseeching. Goodwin. 
beseekt (be-sek'), r. t. Obsolete variant of be- 
seech. Chaucer. 
There with prayers meeke 
And myld entreaty lodging did for her lieseeke. 
Spenser, F. Q., VI. ill. 37. 
beseem (be-sem'), r. [< ME. besemcn, bisemen, 
< be- + semen, seem : see be- 1 and seem.] I.f 
intrans. 1. To seem. 
As beseemed right. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 20. 
2. To be seemly ; be meet. 
II. trans. 1. To become; be fit for or wor- 
thy of. 
Grave, beseeming ornament. Shak., R. and J., i. 1. 
In general, it has a quiet, didactic tone, such as beseems 
its subject and its age. Tirknor, Span. Lit., I. 91. 
2f. To seem fit for. 
But foure of them the battell best beseemed. 
Spenser, F. Q., IV. ix. 20. 
beseemingt (be-se'ming), n. Comeliness. 
beseemingly (bf-se'mmg-li), adv. In a be- 
seeming manner. 
beseemingness (be-se'ming-nes), . The qual- 
ity of being beseeming. 
beseemlyt (be-sem'li), a. [< beseem, confused 
with seemly.]' Seemly; fit; suitable: as, "be- 
scemly order," Shenstonc, Schoolmistress. 
beseent (be-sen'), pp. [< ME. beseyn, besein, 
beseye, byseyn, etc., provided, arrayed, having 
a certain appearance, pp. of besen, beseon, be- 
see: see besee.] 1. Seen; viewed; with refer- 
ence to appearance, looking : as, a well-beseett 
man. 
Arayd in ... sad habiliments right well beseene. 
Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 5. 
Hence 2. Clad; arrayed; equipped. 
The Curate in his best beseeiie solemnly received him at 
the Churchyard stile. 
/f. Carew, Survey of Cornwall, p. 137 b. 
3. Provided with as accomplishments; fur- 
nished. 
beseket, r. t. A Middle English spelling of be- 
seech. 
besenna (be-seu'a), n. Same as mesenna. 
beset (be-sef), r". t. ; pret. and pp. beset, ppr. 
besetting. [< ME. besetten, bisetten, < AS. be- 
settan (= OFries. bisetta = D. besetten = LG. 
besetten = OHG. bisezan, MHG. G. besetzen = 
Sw. besdtta = D. bes&tte = Goth, bisatjan), sur- 
round, < be-, about, + settan, set : see be- 1 and 
