Obs. Forms: 2–3 biȝeate, biȝæte, 2–4 biȝete, 4–5 beȝete, biyete, beyete, 4 byyate, beȝeitt, biyett, bigeet, ? bygate, ? bigete; 4–5 bigate, 5 begete. [ME. f. BEGET v.; cf. OE. ǫndʓit, -ʓet, f. ǫnʓitan.]
1. The action of acquiring; acquisition, gaining; acquisition, gain, profit, advantage.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 213. Iblesced beo þet þus went lure to biȝeate.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 166. Þe þridde reisun of þe worldes fluhte is þe biȝeate of heouene.
1393. Gower, Conf., Prol. I. 14. For pompe and for beȝete.
b. concr. The thing acquired; acquisition, acquirement, gain, proceeds; spoils of war.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 37. Þe fule man … of unrihte biȝete ofte filleð [his wombe].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 160. He biȝet þeos þreo biȝeaten.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 895. Habram gaf him ðe tiȝðe del Of alle is biȝete.
c. 1430. Syr Gener., 4810. Al to smal is oure begete.
2. Procreation, generation; begetting.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 1437. Al he teld ther the king Of his bigete, of his bereing.
b. concr. That which is begotten, progeny.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 68. And eke hem that hym hebbeth so, And alle hare bi-ȝete.
c. 1400. Octouian, 848. He was som gentylmannes beyete.
