beshrew

English

Etymology

From Middle English beshrewen (“to curse, pervert”), equivalent to be- +‎ shrew.

Verb

beshrew (third-person singular simple present beshrews, present participle beshrewing, simple past and past participle beshrewed)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To invoke or wish evil upon; to curse.
   • 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter XII:

     I had expected to freeze her young – or, rather, middle-aged – blood and have her perm stand on end like quills upon the fretful porpentine, and she hadn't moved a muscle. “Beshrew me,” I said, “you take it pretty calmly.”

2. (transitive) A mildly imprecatory or merely expletive introductory exclamation, in the form of the imperative.

   Beshrew your heart, Fair daughter! ― Shakespeare.

   • 1883, Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood Chapter V

     "Now, beshrew his heart," quoth jolly Robin, "that would deny a butcher. And, moreover, I will go dine with you all, my sweet lads, and that as fast as I can hie." Whereupon, having sold all his meat, he closed his stall and went with them to the great Guild Hall.

Translations

to invoke or wish evil upon; to curse

• Russian: проклинать (ru) (proklinátʼ) n

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