The Collaborative International Dictionary
Bethink \Be*think"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bethought; p. pr. & vb. n. Bethinking.] [AS. be[thorn]encan; pref. be- + To call to mind; to recall or bring to recollection, reflection, or consideration; to think; to consider; -- generally followed by a reflexive pronoun, often with of or that before the subject of thought.
I have bethought me of another fault.
--Shak.
The rest . . . may . . . bethink themselves, and
recover.
--Milton.
We bethink a means to break it off.
--Shak.
Syn: To recollect; remember; reflect.
Bethink \Be*think"\, v. i.
To think; to recollect; to consider. ``Bethink ere thou
dismiss us.''
--Byron.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
vb. 1 (lb en obsolete transitive) To think about, to recollect. 2 (lb en reflexive) To think (m en of) (something or somebody) or (m en that) (+ clause); to remind oneself, to consider, to reflect upon. 3 to meditate, ponder; to consider 4 to determine, resolve
WordNet
v. cause oneself to consider something
consider or ponder something carefully; "She bethought her of their predicament"
[also: bethought]
Usage examples of "bethink".
But I have bethought me, that, since I am growing old and past the age of getting children, one of you, my sons, must abide at home to cherish me and your mother, and to lead our carles in war if trouble falleth upon us.
Hearing him from under my kaross I bethought me that he had really grown old at last, who for the moment evidently forgot the part which this very assegai had played a few months before in the Vale of Bones.
Having recovered my calm, I bethought myself that I was guilty and begged her forgiveness.
Then, bethinking me that there was no need for such equivocation here, I was on the point of giving her my name.
He controlled himself betimes, bethinking him that, after all, there might be some reason in what this fat fellow said.
And then the two ladies put their heads together, bethinking themselves how they might best deprecate the wrath of Lady Lufton.
With a desire to drive away obtrusive thoughts, the captain had been much in his fields, and he was bethinking himself of making a large contribution to the good cause, in the way of fatted porkers, of which he had an unusual number, that he thought might yet be driven through the forest to Fort Stanwix, before the season closed.
I should not be able to sleep, but would be tormented all night by innumerable mental mosquitoes if I made the attempt, and bethinking me of my former resolution, I proceeded to carry it out.
When Styles returned, he informed me that Mr Coningham at first proposed to ride back with him, but probably bethinking himself that another sixteen miles would be too much for my mare, had changed his mind and sent me the message that he would be with me early the next day.
Mivarsh, bethinking him that if the mantichores of the mountains should devour him along with those two lords, that were yet a kindlier fate than all alone to abide those things he wist of on the Moruna, put on the rope, and after commending himself to the protection of his gods followed Lord Brandoch Daha down the rotten slopes of rock and frozen earth at the head of a gully leading down the cliff.
Then, unwilling to depart from so fair a spot, and bethinking him, besides, that after so many hours his horse was weary, he dismounted and lay down beside the stream.
And now she bethought her that she had not thanked him - and the debt was a heavy one.
He bethought him that the hour, and the circumstance that most of the mercenaries would be in their beds, accounted for the reinforcement not being greater.
Then, as time sped on and the sun approached its setting and still no one came, she bethought her that if harm had befallen Marius, none would ride that night to Condillac.
But she bethought her that the need for him might not yet utterly be passed.