v. Obs. Forms: Inf. 1 betǽcan, 2 -en, 3 bitæchen, -teachen, 3–4 biteche(n, 3–5 biteche, 4 byteche, beteiche, -teyche, 5 beteche, 6 Sc. beteiche, 7 beteach. Pa. t. 1 betǽhte, 2 betahte, -tehte (tohte, -tacte), 2–4 bitaht(e, -hhte, -ȝte, 3 biteihte, 3–5 bi-, by-, betaght(e, -ȝt(e, (4 bitahut, biteched), 4–5 bi-, by-, betauȝt(e, -ht(e, -ght(e, -wght, -wt, 4–6 Sc. betaucht, -wcht, 7 beteached. Pa. pple. analogous to pa. t. [OE. betǽc(e)an, f. BE- 2 + tǽc(e)an to show (:—OTeut. type *taikjan, from same root as *taikno-, OE. tácn token) Cf. BETAKE.]
1. trans. To show, point out.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xxii. 12. And he eow betæcð mycele healle gedæfte.
2. To hand over, deliver, give up, yield. Const. with dat., or to, till, unto.
a. 1000. Ælfric, Colloquy, ¶ 21. Ic betæce hiʓ ðam yrthlincge.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke i. 2. Swa us betæhtun ða þe hyt of frymðe ʓesáwon.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 11. Drihten him bitahte twa stanene tables breode.
c. 1175. Cott. Hom., 221. Alle hi beoð þe betéhte.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 300. I chulle ower foes lond bitechen in his honden.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3539. Þe mete mi moder me bi-taght.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 610. The king betaucht hym in that steid The Endentur.
c. 1400. Maundev., v. 63. That is the Place where oure Lord betaughten the Ten Comandementes to Moyses.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XI. xi. 124. To ane onhappy chance betaucht is sche.
3. To hand over as a trust; to entrust, commit, give in charge to.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxv. 15. [He] betǽhte hymn hys æhta.
1160. Hatton G., ibid. Betacte [v.r. betahte].
c. 1205. Lay., 11503. Ich him wulle bitæchen [c. 1250 bi-teche] mine kinc-riche.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4254. Þe wardeinscipp of al his aght Has putifar ioseph bi-taght [v.r. betaȝt, bitauȝt].
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 324. The emperour … byddis ȝow … bryng with ȝow his son dere, That he betauȝt ȝow to lere.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, II. xii. [xi.] 113. Our Troiane Goddis … Onto my feris betawcht I, for to keip.
4. To commit or commend (one), by the expression of a wish, to (God, the devil, etc.). As a formula of leave-taking: To bid adieu or good-bye.
c. 1314. Guy Warw. (A.), 1248. Fader, god y þe biteche And mi leue moder al-so; For hastiliche ichil nov go.
c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 328. Aither bitaught other heuen king And went in her iurnè.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XV. 538. Quhen wiffis vald thar childir ban Thai wald … Beteche thame to the blak douglass.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melib., Prol. 6. Now swich a Rym the deuel I biteche.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (1856), III. 65. Beteichand hir to him that bocht ws deir.
1685. G. Sinclair, in R. Law, Memor. (1818), 124. He beteached himself strongly to God.
b. Hence, by confusion, To beteach one good day: to wish or bid one good day.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 338. Whan his gestes took her leue … [they] bitaughte Gamelyn god & good day.
a. 1440. Ipomydon, 568. They toke leve … And bytaught the lady gode day.
a. 1500. Kyng & Hermit, 513, in Hazl., E. P. P., 33. Ather betauȝt other gode dey.
5. To allot, assign.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 400. Þe fuxol [? fuȝol] be-taght he to þe wind. Ibid., 5412 (Trin.). Þat was bitauȝte prestes to fede.
6. To TEACH, instruct.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15669. Quen he ha þus-gat þam bi-taght, stil he left þam þare.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 1664. He is of the deville betaught.
7. in pa. pple. Related.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13222. Or hei oxspring þan es þis ion … Nere be-taght to mild mari.
