The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
Etymology 1 alt. 1 (context transitive English) To help, assist. 2 (context transitive English) To profit; benefit; serve; avail. vb. 1 (context transitive English) To help, assist. 2 (context transitive English) To profit; benefit; serve; avail. Etymology 2
vb. (context transitive English) To take the place of; replace. Etymology 3
(context archaic English) placed (in a given situation); beset. alt. (context archaic English) placed (in a given situation); beset.
Usage examples of "bestead".
My lord, said Sir Gareth, he made me a knight, and when I saw him so hard bestead, methought it was my worship to help him, for I saw him do so much, and so many noble knights against him.
Ha, ha, most noble knight, said Queen Guenever, I see well thou art hard bestead when thou ridest in a chariot.
Then was he sent for, and when Sir Lavaine saw Sir Launcelot, he said: My lord, I found well how ye were hard bestead, for I have found your horse that was slain with arrows.
Alas, said Sir Launcelot, in all my life thus was I never bestead, that I should be thus shamefully slain for lack of mine armour.
And then that noble knight Sir Launcelot told them all how he was hard bestead in the queen's chamber, and how and in what manner he escaped from them.
Sir, said the barons, in especial Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, Sir, we will give you counsel for to send for Sir Tristram, for we will that ye wit many men will hold with Sir Tristram an he were hard bestead.
Come on with me, she said, and that in all the haste ye may, for ye shall see the most worshipfullest knight of the world hard bestead.
Thus, on all hands, I seemed to myself as sore bestead as ever man was, and on no side saw any hope of succour.
Dante, one of the bravest, but hardest bestead of God's saints, was, just like you, well-nigh giving up the mountain altogether when his Greatheart, who was always at his side, divining what was going on within him, said to him - "Those scars That when they pain thee most then kindliest heal.
SPIRIT OF THE YEARS Cease fooling on weak waifs who love and wed But as the unweeting Urger may bestead!