v. Obs. [ME. biwak(i)en, f. bi-, BE- + WAKE; cf. G. bewachen, Du. bewaken. For the strong and weak pa. tense, see AWAKE.]
1. trans. To keep watch over; to guard.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 35. Þe herdes biwakeden here oref.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3339. Hirdess … Þatt nihht Biwokenn þeȝȝre faldess.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 350. My lady … Nis better ȝemed and bewaked.
2. spec. To watch a corpse. Cf. WAKE sb.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2444. Egipte folc him bi-waken xl. niȝtes and .xl. daiȝes.
c. 1320. Seuyn Sag. (W.), 2578. He was biwaked richeliche And wel faire browt on erthe.
3. To spend waking; to watch through.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 244. That night was wel bewaked.
4. intr. To keep awake; to watch.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 131. Magdalene … bewaked and wepte for her synnes.
