Also 7 bested, -steed. Pa. t. besteaded. Pa. pple. 6 bestedde, 9 bested, bestead. [f. BE- 2 + STEAD v.1 to prop, support, help.]
1. trans. To help, assist, relieve.
1581. Sir H. Savile, Tacitus, III. xxxii. (1591), 133. They were thought to haue bestedde and helped Vitellius side.
1627. R. Perrot, Jacobs Vowe, 56. Better able by his purse … to bestead his neighbours, than they him.
1662. Fuller, Worthies (1840), I. 520. Who besteaded him with the kings favour.
1874. Holland, Mistr. Manse, xxi. 96. Sapphire nought without the red, Ruby still by blue bested.
2. To be of service or use to; to avail.
1589. Sir F. Drake’s Voy. W. Ind., 5 (R.). Great store of drie New[found]land fish … did very greatly bestead vs in the whole course of our voyage.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, II. xix. 128. At nights … our mantles of thick Cloth which many times besteaded us.
1805. Southey, Madoc in Azt., xv. Little did then his pomp of plumes bestead The Azteca … Against the tempered sword.
1862. Clough, in Macm. Mag., Aug., 321. Thou vain Philosophy! Little hast thou bestead, Save to perplex the head.
