The Collaborative International Dictionary
Beshrew \Be*shrew"\, v. t. To curse; to execrate.
Beshrew me, but I love her heartily.
--Shak.
Note: Often a very mild form of imprecation; sometimes so far
from implying a curse, as to be uttered coaxingly, nay
even with some tenderness.
--Schmidt.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
vb. 1 (context transitive obsolete English) To invoke or wish evil upon; to curse. 2 (context transitive English) A mildly imprecatory or merely expletive introductory exclamation, in the form of the imperative.
WordNet
v. wish harm upon; invoke evil upon; "The bad witch cursed the child" [syn: curse, damn, bedamn, anathemize, anathemise, imprecate, maledict] [ant: bless]
Usage examples of "beshrew".
I had presence of mind enough to forge a plausible story, beshrew me if I think I should have the courage to tell it.
But beshrew me, he cried, clapping hand to his forehead, tomorrow will be a new day and, thousand thunders, I know of a marchand de capotes, Monsieur Poyntz, from whom I can have for a livre as snug a cloak of the French fashion as ever kept a lady from wetting.
Its parodies of Tudor speech lapse sometimes into a callow satisfaction in that idiom--Mark hugely enjoys his nathlesses and beshrews and marrys.