ppl. a. Obs. Also 4 be-, biseye. [See BESEE v. II.] Good-looking, of good appearance; well appointed or apparelled; well furnished with; versed or accomplished in.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 821. Fetys he was and wel beseye [Cointes fut et de bel atour].
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 302. My wif … Which is with reson wel besein. Ibid., III. 121. Sche [Virgo] is with sterres wel beseie.
c. 1440. Generydes, 1978. Tentys large, full riche and wele besen.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, I. 213. Likle he was, richt byge and weyle beseyne.
1530. Palsgr., 844/1. Well bysene, bien accoustré.
1576. R. Peterson, G. della Casa’s Galateo, 10. A Noble gentleman, courteous and well beseene in all good behauiour.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 147. Teodor Gaza ane weill besene man baitht in Lattine and greik.
1591. Spenser, Virgil’s Gnat, 651. Eftsoones he gins to fashion forth a place,… squaring it in compasse well beseene. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., V. viii. 29. The Briton Prince him readie did awayte, In glistering armes right goodly well beseene.
1736. W. Thompson, Epithal., xiv. Our dearling Prince to meet Augusta well-beseen.
a. 1911. Æ. J. G. Mackay, Pitscottie, Gloss. s.v. Beseine, Still used. ‘Ye are weel besene the day,’ i. e. well clothed or fit to look upon.
