beset
part of speech
verb (beset, besets, beset, besetting) — mostly passive «be beset by/with»
meaning for a pupil
1) To be beset by problems, dangers or worries is to have many of them troubling you from all sides. tree →
2) (old) To beset someone is to surround and attack them. tree →
3) (Old) To be beset with something is to be decorated or set with it, such as jewels. tree →
sense in the lessons
Interpretation: In the psalm, the enemies are like fierce bulls surrounding the speaker, a picture of danger from all sides. Habakkuk sees the wicked pressing in on the righteous. In the primary lessons: Used in stories and news: «the journey was beset by problems», «beset with dangers». In The Wind in the Willows Mole in the Wild Wood is beset by fears; in old tales, travellers are beset by robbers.
examples
- Many bulls have encompassed me; strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. (Writings PSA.22.13, JPS 1917) tree →
- Therefore the law is slacked, and right doth never go forth; for the wicked doth beset the righteous; therefore right goeth forth perverted. (Prophets HAB.1.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- And let them not say to their heart — I remember all their wickedness; now their own doings have beset them about, they are before My face. (Prophets HOS.7.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- The expedition was beset by storms. tree →
- Mole felt beset by eyes and whispers in the Wild Wood. tree →
- The team has been beset by injuries. tree →
- Travellers were beset by robbers on the old road. tree →
- The project was beset with problems from the start. tree →
- She was beset by doubts. tree →
- Her godmother only just touched her with her wand, and, at the same instant, her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels. tree →
note
Irregular: past and past participle are «beset» (no -ed). Doubles t: besetting. Formal.
In the corpora
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «beset» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.