besmear

English

Etymology

From Middle English bismerwen, from Old English besmirwan, besmierwan (“to besmear”), equivalent to be- +‎ smear. Cognate with Dutch besmeren (“to besmear”), German beschmieren (“to besmear”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

Verb

besmear (third-person singular simple present besmears, present participle besmearing, simple past and past participle besmeared)

1. (transitive) To smear over; smear all over; sully.

   • 1734, William Stukeley, Of the Gout, page 57:

     ...carters and coachmen, who make in imitation thereof a composition of grease and tar, with which they besmear the inside of the naves of wheels and the extremitys of the axis upon which they move.

   • 2012 January 26, Jim Vandehei, Mike Allen, “Drudge, conservative media criticize Newt Gingrich”, Politico:

     His public record is already besmeared with tawdry divorces,…

Translations

to smear over, sully

• Bulgarian: нацапвам (bg) (nacapvam), измърсявам (bg) (izmǎrsjavam), оплесквам (bg) (opleskvam), размазвам (bg) (razmazvam)

Anagrams

• beamers, Beamers