The Collaborative International Dictionary
Bestad \Be*stad"\, imp. & p. p. of Bestead.
Beset; put in peril. [Obs.]
--Chaucer.
Bestead \Be*stead"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestead or Bested, also (Obs.) Bestad. In sense 3 imp. also Besteaded.]
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To put in a certain situation or condition; to circumstance; to place. [Only in p. p.]
They shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: . . . and curse their king and their God.
--Is. viii. 21.Many far worse bestead than ourselves.
--Barrow. -
To put in peril; to beset.
Note: [Only in p. p.]
--Chaucer. To serve; to assist; to profit; to avail.
--Milton.
Usage examples of "bestad".
Have ye not seen sometime a pale face (Among a press) of him that hath been lad* *led Toward his death, where he getteth no grace, And such a colour in his face hath had, Men mighte know him that was so bestad* *bested, situated Amonges all the faces in that rout?
Ne stayd he, till he came vnto the place,Where late his treasure he entombed had,Where when he found it not (for Trompart baceHad it purloyned for his maister bad:)With extreme fury he became quite mad,And ran away, ran with himselfe away:That who so straungely had him seene bestad,With vpstart haire, and staring eyes dismay,From Limbo lake him late escaped sure would say.
And eke by that he saw on euery tree,How he the name of one engrauen had,Which likly was his liefest loue to be,For whom he now so sorely was bestad.
And now he was in trauell on his way,Vppon an hard aduenture sore bestad,Whenas by chaunce he met vppon a dayWith Artegall, returning yet halfe sadFrom his late conquest, which he gotten had.
Dame be no longer sad:For he, that hath your Knight so ill bestad,Is now him selfe in much more wretched plight.
The Prince according to the former token,Which faire Serene to him deliuered had,Pursu'd him streight, in mynd to bene ywrokenOf all the vile demeane, and vsage bad,With which he had those two so ill bestad:Ne wight with him on that aduenture went,But that wylde man, whom though he oft forbad,Yet for no bidding, nor for being shent,Would he restrayned be from his attendement.