v. Obs. [f. BE- 4 + OE. feohtan, ME. fight: cf. MHG. bevehten. The OE. and ME. uses seem to be unconnected.]

1

  1.  trans. To deprive of by fighting. Only in OE.

2

c. 1000.  Riddles, iv. 32. Feore bifohten.

3

  2.  To fight against, do battle with.

4

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, 87. To-fore or he dyd doo assaylle hit or befight hit.

5

a. 1547.  Earl Surrey, Æneid, II. 532. As wrastling windes … Befight themselves.

6

  Hence Befighting vbl. sb.

7

1489.  Caxton, Faytes of A., II. xiv. 116. In fayttes of befyghtyngis and sawtynges of cytees.

8