v. Pa. t. and pple. bethought. In OE. biþencan, ME. bithenchen, bithenke: for variants see THINK. [Com. Teut.: OE. biþęncan = OS. bithenkjan, OHG. bidenchan (MHG., mod.G., Du. bedenken), Goth. biþagkjan:—OTeut. *biþaŋkjan, f. bi-, BE- + þaŋkjan to THINK. The sense-development may be compared with that of ADVISE v. and F. aviser.]
I. trans.
1. To think of or about, bear in mind; to call to mind, recollect. Obs. exc. with clause.
a. 1000. Guthlac, 1270 (Gr.). Tid is, þat þu fere and þa ærendu eal biþence.
c. 1250. Lay., 8257. Biþench þat he was Lud kinges sone.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 982. Her bewte to bythenkyn, and her youthe.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 33. Bethinck that the crowne of glorie is set forthe … in the end of the race.
1601. Shaks., Per., V. i. 44. ’Tis well bethought.
1885. E. Arnold, Secr. Death, 10. Bethink How those of old, the saints, clove to their word.
† b. To think upon or remember (a person). Obs.
c. 1320. Cast. Loue, 482. And to habben me bi-þouht.
c. 1350. Leg. Rood (1871), 19. A bi-heste he hedde Whon þe tyme weore folfuld vr lord him wolde biþenche.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. v. 164. We bithenken tho persoones.
† 2. To think of, imagine, conceive. Obs.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 25. Biþenchen mid his fule heorte þe heo wulle underfon swa heȝ þing.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wyf’s T., 772. He spak moore harm than herte may bithynke.
† 3. To think over (a thing) with a view to decision or action; to consider. Obs.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 94. Or he it biðenken can hise eȝen weren mirke.
1297. R. Glouc., 289. Hii … byþoȝte hou hii myȝte best myd þe holy body do.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2747. Þe werewolf … biþout how were best Þe bestes to help.
1577. Northbrooke, Dicing (1843), 10. Al things which he hath … either intended, bythought, said, or done.
1614. R. Wilkinson, Paire Serm., Ep. Ded. Bethinking by what meanes I might best either expresse or deserve thankes.
1647. F. Bland, Souldiers March, 32. If they should … seriously bethink what clemencie … they would desire, if in the same case.
† 4. To devise, contrive, plan, arrange. Obs.
c. 1225. Juliana, 67. Greiðe al þat þu const grimliche biþenchen.
c. 1320. Cast. Loue, 698. Seue berbicans … Wiþ gret ginne al bi-þouht.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., 35. Go we alle anon to the Emperour, and be-thynke vs a remedye.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. iii. 39. We bethinke a meanes to breake it off.
† 5. To regret, repent, grudge ( = OE. ofþęncan.)
1682. Norris, Hierocles, 24. Neither ought we to bethink what we spend upon them.
1687. in Lond. Gaz., No. 2252/5. That Your Majesty may never have cause … to withdraw or bethink the … Liberty given us.
1696. Locke, in F. Bourne, Life, II. xiii. 338. I can never bethink any pains or time of mine in the service of my country.
† 6. causal. To remind (one) of, that. Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 100. Þis word uader þe beþenþ þet þou art zone.
II. refl.
† 7. To collect one’s thoughts; to take thought; to recollect oneself, return to oneself. Obs.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xv. 17. Þa beþohte he hine and cwæð.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 43, in Lamb. Hom., 161. Wel late ich habbe me bi-þocht.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 244/1. She bethoughte her and prayed thus in her self.
1611. Bible, 1 Kings viii. 47. If they shall bethinke themselues … and repent.
1649. Milton, Eikon., ad. fin. The rest … may find the grace … to bethink themselves and recover.
8. To occupy oneself in thought; to reflect, consider, think; also, to call to mind, recollect.
c. 1205. Lay., 7664. Ælc Frensc mon þe wes aht hæfð hine seolfne biþoht.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 200. Ȝif heo hire wel biðouhte.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 893. The iustice him gan bithenche, And thus aposed that wenche.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 56. Eve … ansuered to lightely withoute bethenkinge her.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 51. Ile tell yoo if I can, when I haue better bethought me.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., II. ii. 145. I will bethinke me: come againe to morrow.
1740. L. Clarke, Hist. Bible, VIII. 525. Advising them to bethink themselves, and to take soberer measures.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 83. Rip bethought himself a moment.
b. with inf. (obs.) or obj. clause, esp. indirect interrogative.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 155. Hwenne ho hom biðohten þet heo isuneȝed hefden.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., ¶ 228. Bythynke him wel that he hath deserved thilke peynes.
1634. Heywood, Maidenhead lost, IV. Wks. 1874, IV. 148. Bethinke thee what thou vndertak’st.
1851. Helps, Comp. Solit., vi. (ed. 1874), 84. To bethink themselves how little they may owe to their own merit.
c. with of (formerly on, upon).
c. 1200. Ormin, 2917. Þatt Godess þeoww himm ȝeorne birrþ Biþennkenn & bilokenn, Off all þatt tatt he wile don.
1297. R. Glouc., 368. Kyng Wyllam byþoȝte hym ek of þe volc, þat was verlore.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 372. He byþouȝte hym on þis swerde.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, V. v. (1859), 76. Thenne I bethought me vppon the byrdes.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 461. I haue bethought me of another fault.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, I. IV. 113. The Greeks will … Bethink them of their country.
9. To take it into one’s head, propose to oneself, resolve. (F. s’aviser.)
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 125. Þe mayster him biþoȝt, Þat he wolde se þe semblé.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, I. 139. Þanne þe lordes byþouȝte hem … oþerwise to fiȝte.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., IV. iii. 251. It may be I shall otherwise bethinke me.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 264, ¶ 5. A Fellow … has bethought himself of joining Profit and Pleasure together.
1884. W. J. Courthope, Addison, iv. 58. Charles naturally bethought himself of calling literature to his assistance.
III. intr.
10. To consider, reflect, meditate, think. arch.
c. 1300. Beket, 43. He moste bithenche, For he was stronge adrad ȝut.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxiv. 63. He was goon out to bithenk in the feeld.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, I. xiv. (1859), 11. I gan to bythenke to me yf euer I had seruyd ony seynt.
1590. Swinburn, Testaments, Ded. Bethinking vvith myselfe (most reuerende Father).
1817. Byron, Manfred, I. i. 167. Bethink ere thou dismiss us, ask again.
† b. with of, on, upon; = 1–4. Obs.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 162, in Trin. Coll. Hom., 224. He biðohte an helle fur.
c. 1205. Lay., 5021. Biðenc o ðire monschipe.
a. 1300. Floriz & Bl., 428. While i biþenche of sume ginne.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 1176. On this Castell to bethynke.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 10. I wyshe … the exchange … to bethinck on the wayters … on there … soules.
1608. J. King, Serm., 38. His Eie-liddes haue considered and bethought of the means.
1647. W. Browne, Polex., II. 75. He bethought on the meanes.
IV. passive.
11. To be bethought: to bethink oneself (in senses 7, 8, 9). See also BETHOUGHT.
c. 1250. O. E. Misc., 166. To bidden his milce to late we beoð biþohte.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 767. Of a myrthe I am right now bythoght To doon yow ese.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 1080. It is not strange … An husbonde on his baathe to be bethought.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iii. 6. And am bethought To take the basest, and most poorest shape.
