bedew

English

Etymology

From Middle English bidewen, bideawen; equivalent to be- +‎ dew. Cognate with Dutch bedauwen (“to bedew”), German betauen (“to bedew”).

Verb

bedew (third-person singular simple present bedews, present participle bedewing, simple past and past participle bedewed)

1. (transitive) To make wet with or as if with dew.
   • 1885, Gilbert & Sullivan, The Mikado:

     While sympathetic tears

     My cheeks bedew

   • 1836, Eliza Cook, "The Old Armchair"

     I LOVE it, I love it ; and who shall dare

     To chide me for loving that old Arm-chair ?

     I've treasured it long as a sainted prize ;

     I've bedewed it with tears, and embalmed it with sighs.

   • 1831, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein:

     Soft tears again bedewed my cheeks, and I even raised my humid eyes with thankfulness towards the blessed sun which bestowed such joy upon me.

Derived terms

• bedewed

Anagrams

• bewed, dweeb