[ME. bestialite, a. F. bestialité: see BESTIAL and -ITY.]
1. The nature or qualities of a beast; want of intelligence, irrationality, stupidity, brutality.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 735. For that he [an ass] So dul is in his bestialite.
1563. Grafton, Chron. Mary, an. 5 (R.). Espiyng well the beastiality of the Fleminges his neighbours.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xviii. Wks. (1851), 468. As Politicians oft times … handle the matter, there hath bin no where found more bestialitie.
c. 1714. Arbuthnot, etc., Mem. M. Scribl., xv. (1741), 144–5 (J.). What can be a greater absurdity than to affirm Bestiality to be the Essence of Humanity, [etc.]?
1874. Mivart, in Contemp. Rev., Oct., 773. The great doctrine concerning the essential Bestiality of Man.
2. Indulgence in the instincts of a beast; brutal lust; concr. a disgusting vice, a beastly practice.
1648. Bp. Hall, Remains (1860), 189 (L.). How do they … tickle themselves with the wanton remembrances of their younger bestialities?
1659. Gentl. Call. (1696), 77. The sordid bestialities of the most abject of men.
1710. Tatler, No. 241, ¶ 4. The unhappy Consort of his Bestiality.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, II. iii. 241. Their Wives and Children … [were] not safe from Bestialities, even in their most retired Apartments.
b. Filthy language, obscenity.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xv. 241. Filthy verses … about Clodius and Clodia, ribald bestiality, delightful to the ears of Tully.
† 3. Unnatural connection with a beast. Obs.
1611. Bible, Lev. xx. Argt. Of Sodomie. Of Beastialitie. Of vncleannesse.
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Fam. Ep., Wks. (1711), 143. A poor miserable fellow accused of bestality.
1765. Goldsmith, Ess., xiv. ¶ 5. Bestiality [was] sanctified by the amours of Jupiter.
† 4. = BESTIAL sb.1 Obs.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 43. To keip bestialite and to manure corne landis. Ibid., 44. Paris … vas ane scheiphird, and kepit bestialite on montht ydea.
