betitle

English

Etymology

From be- +‎ title.

Verb

betitle (third-person singular simple present betitles, present participle betitling, simple past and past participle betitled)

1. (archaic) To provided with a title; to entitle.
   • 1654 Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches, with Elucidations, ed. Thomas Carlyle, 3 vol., 1845

     But for men, on this principle, to betitle themselves that they are the only men to rule kingdoms, govern nations, and give laws to people, and determine of property and liberty and everything else, —upon such a pretension as this is: truly they had need to give clear manifestations of God’s presence with them before wise men will receive or submit to their conclusions!

   • 1913, I. A. R. Wylie, The Little Partner:

     He struck a match. It flickered uncertainly, but it served to light up his haggard face and the solemn, betitled iron boxes lining the walls. He laughed.

References

• “betitle”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• let it be