different between beseem vs beseek

English

Etymology

From Middle English besemen, bisemen; equivalent to be- +? seem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /b??si?m/
• Rhymes: -i?m

Verb

beseem (third-person singular simple present beseems, present participle beseeming, simple past and past participle beseemed)

1. (transitive, intransitive, archaic) With some qualifying word: to appear, seem, look.
2. (transitive, intransitive, archaic) Without any qualifying word: to be appropriate or creditable.
   • c. 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 1, Act IV, Scene 7,^[1]

     Give me their bodies, that I may bear them hence

     And give them burial as beseems their worth.

   • 1594, Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, London: William Jones,^[2]

     Beseemes it thee to contradict thy king?

   • 1597, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, Book 5, in The Works of Mr. Richard Hooker, London: Andrew Crook, 1666, pp. 180-181,^[3]

     Should we hereupon frame a Rule, that what form of speech or behaviour soever is fit for Suiters in a Prince’s Court, the same and no other beseemeth us in our Prayers to Almighty God.

   • 1643, Petition of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly to the Kings Majesty, Edinburgh,^[4]

     The Nationall Assembly of this Kirk, from which we have our Commission, did promise in their thanksgiving for the many favours expressed in Your Majesties Letter, their best endeavours to keep the people under their charge, in unity and peace, and in loyalty and obedience to Your Majestie and Your Laws, which we confesse is a duty well beseeming the preachers of the Gospel […]

   • 1717, Samuel Croxall (translator), Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. Translated by the most Eminent Hands, London: Jacob Tonson, Book 6, The Story of Tereus, Procne, and Philomela, p. 202,^[5]

     Her Vest, with Flow’rs of Gold embroider’d o’er,

     With Grief distress’d, the mournful Matron tore,

     And a beseeming Suit of gloomy Sable wore.

   • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 5,^[6]

     “Lady,” said Cedric, “this beseems not; were further pledge necessary, I myself, offended, and justly offended, as I am, would yet gage my honour for the honour of Ivanhoe.”

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English beseken, equivalent to be- +? seek. Cognate with Scots beseik (“to beseek”). More at beseech.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /b??si?k/
• Rhymes: -i?k

Verb

beseek (third-person singular simple present beseeks, present participle beseeking, simple past and past participle besought)

1. (transitive, dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To beseech; entreat.

Anagrams

• Beekes