beeste

Afrikaans

Noun

beeste

1. plural of bees

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Middle English

Alternative forms

• beste, beest, best, beast

Etymology

From Old French beste, from Latin bestia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɛːst(ə)/

Noun

beeste (plural beestes)

1. An animal or creature (living thing in the kingdom Animalia (sometimes including mankind)):
   1. A non-human mammal; a creature that isn't avian, an insect, a human, or seaborne.
   2. Any creature used as livestock or which has been subject to domestication.
2. A creature of evil or malice; a demon, devil, or monster
3. A beast; a fantastic or mythological creature of great power.

   • a. 1382, John Wycliffe, “Apocalips 4:7”, in Wycliffe's Bible:

     And the firſte beeſte lijk a lyoun; and the ſecounde beeſte lijk a calf; and the thridde beeſte hauynge a face as of a man; and the fourthe beeſte lijk an egle fleynge.

     And the first beast [was] like a lion; and the second beast [was] like a calf; and the third beast had a face like a person; and the fourth beast [was] like an eagle flying.

4. A person who is merciless, unforgiving, or ignorant.

Descendants

• English: beast
• Scots: beast

References

• “bēst(e (n.)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-17.