biteon

Middle English

Alternative forms

• bi-teon, bitēn, by-teon

Etymology

From Old English betēon (“to cover, surround, enclose, dispose of, bestow, bequeath, impeach, accuse”), equivalent to bi- +‎ ten (“to go, to draw”). Cognate with German beziehen (“to obtain, cover, receive, draw”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (bitiuhan, “to bestow, draw over, betray”).

Pronunciation

• (Early ME) IPA^(key): /bi.ˈtøːn/
• IPA^(key): /bi.ˈteːn/

Verb

biteon (third-person singular simple present biteoth, present participle biteonde, first-/third-person singular past indicative bitogh, past participle bitowen)

1. (transitive) To draw over (as a covering); cover; veil.
2. (transitive) To pull or tug at.
3. (transitive) To employ; spend; bestow (time, pains, etc.)
4. (transitive) To bring about; manage; arrange.