bestead

1 of 2

adjective

be·​stead bi-ˈsted 

variants or bested

archaic

: situated

bestead

2 of 2

verb

besteaded; bestead; besteading

transitive verb

1

archaic : help

2

archaic : to be useful to : avail

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English bested, from be- + sted, past participle of steden to place, from stede place — more at stead entry 1

Verb

be- + stead

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2