Part 24

BEEF, b[=e]f, _n._ the flesh of an ox or cow:--_pl._ BEEVES, used in original sense, oxen.--_adj._ consisting of beef.--_ns._ BEEF'-EAT'ER (b[=e]f'-[=e]t'[.e]r), a popular name for a yeoman of the sovereign's guard, also of the warders of the Tower of London [the obvious ety. is the right one, there being no such form as _buffetier_, connected with _buffet_, a sideboard, as often stated]; BEEF'INESS; BEEF'STEAK, a thick slice of beef for broiling or frying; BEEF'TEA, a stimulating rather than nutritious food for invalids, being the juice of beef strained off, after simmering chopped beef in water.--_adjs._ BEEF'-WIT'TED, BEEF'-BRAINED, dull or heavy in wits: stupid.--_n._ BEEF'-WOOD, an Australian wood, of reddish colour, used in cabinetwork.--_adj._ BEEF'Y, like beef, fleshy, stolid. [O. Fr. _boef_ (Fr. _boeuf_)--L. _bos_, _bovis_; cf. Gr. _bous_, Gael. _b[`o]_, Sans. _go_, A.S. _c['u]_.]

BEELZEBUB, b[=e]-el'ze-bub, _n._ the name under which the Philistines at Ekron worshipped their god _Baal_ or _Bel_: (_New Test._) the prince of the evil spirits. [Heb. _ba'al z'b[=u]b_, fly-lord.]

BEEN, b[=e]n, _pa.p._ of BE.

BEENAH, b[=e]'na, _n._ a primitive form of marriage (the name taken from Ceylon) in which the man goes to live with his wife's family--he is an unimportant person in the family, and the children are not counted his, but belong to the family and kindred of the wife.

BEER, b[=e]r, _n._ an alcoholic beverage made by fermentation from malted barley flavoured with hops. It was anciently distinguished from ale by being hopped; now _beer_ is the generic name of malt liquor, including ale and porter.--_ns._ BEER'-EN'GINE, BEER'-PUMP, a machine for drawing beer up from the casks to the bar; BEER'-HOUSE, a house where beer or malt liquors are sold; BEER'INESS; BEER'-MON'EY, money given to soldiers in the British army, in lieu of beer and spirits.--_adj._ BEER'Y, of or affected by beer.--BEER AND SKITTLES, a phrase used vaguely for Bohemian pleasures, from a simple form supposed to be a rustic ideal.--BITTER BEER = pale ale, a highly hopped beer made from the very finest selected malt and hops; MILD or SWEET ale being of greater gravity or strength, and comparatively lightly hopped; BLACK BEER, a kind of beer made at Danzig, black and syrupy; SMALL BEER, weak beer, hence trifling things, as in the familiar phrase, 'to think no small beer of one's self.' [A.S. _b['e]or_; Ger. and Dut. _bier_, Ice. _bjorr_.]

BEESTINGS, b[=e]st'ingz, _n._ the first milk drawn from a cow after calving. [A.S. _b['y]sting_, _b['e]ost_; Ger. and Dut. _biest_.]

BEET, b[=e]t, _n._ a plant with a carrot-shaped succulent root, eaten as food, from which sugar is extracted.--_ns._ BEET'-FLY, a two-winged insect, which deposits its eggs on beet or mangel-wurzel, and whose larvae are injurious to the plant; BEET'ROOT, the root of the beet plant. [A.S. _b['e]te_ (Fr. _bette_)--L. _b[=e]ta_.]

BEET, BETE, b[=e]t, _v.t._ (_obs._ except _dial._) to improve, mend, to kindle a fire, to rouse. [A.S. _b['o]etan_, _b['e]tan_; cf. _b['o]t_, BOOT.]

BEETLE, b[=e]'tl, _n._ an order of insects technically known as Coleoptera, usually with four wings, the front pair forming hard and horny covers for those behind, which alone are used in flight.--The BLACK BEETLE or cockroach is not a true beetle. [M.E. _bityl_--A.S. _bitula_, _bitela_, _b['i]tan_, to bite.]

BEETLE, b[=e]'tl, _n._ a heavy wooden mallet used for driving wedges, crushing or beating down paving-stones, or the like: a wooden pestle-shaped utensil for mashing potatoes, beating linen, &c.--_n._ BEE'TLE-HEAD, a heavy, stupid fellow.--_adj._ BEE'TLE-HEAD'ED. [A.S. _b['i]etel_; cog. with _b['e]atan_, to beat.]

BEETLE-BROWED, b[=e]'tl-browd, _adj._ with overhanging or prominent brow: scowling.--_v.i._ BEE'TLE, to jut, to hang over--first used by Shakespeare.--_n._ BEET'LING.--_p.adj._ jutting out: prominent: overhanging. [Dr Murray notes that the word is first found in the compound _bitel_-browed, in the 14th century, and favours the explanation, 'with eyebrows like a beetle's'--i.e. projecting eyebrows. See BEETLE (1).]

BEEVES, b[=e]vz, _n.pl._ cattle, oxen. [See BEEF.]

BEFALL, be-fawl', _v.t._ to fall or happen to: to occur to.--_v.i._ to happen or come to pass: (_Spens._) to fall in one's way:--_pr.p._ befall'ing; _pa.t._ befell'; _pa.p._ befall'en. [A.S. _befeallan_. See FALL.]

BEFANA, BEFFANA, be-f[:a]'na, _n._ an Epiphany present or gift--a corruption of _Epiphania_, which name in Italy has become personified for children as a toy-bringing witch or fairy called _La Befana_.

BEFIT, be-fit', _v.t._ to fit, or be suitable to: to be proper to, or right for:--_pr.p._ befit'ting; _pa.p._ befit'ted.--_adj._ BEFIT'TING.--_adv._ BEFIT'TINGLY. [Pfx. _be-_, and FIT.]

BEFLOWER, be-flow'[.e]r, _v.t._ to cover or besprinkle with flowers.

BEFOAM, be-f[=o]m', _v.t._ to bespatter or cover with foam.

BEFOGGED, be-fogd', _adj._ enveloped in fog: confused.

BEFOOL, be-f[=oo]l', _v.t._ to make a fool of, or deceive: to treat as a fool.

BEFORE, be-f[=o]r', _prep._ in front of (_time_ or _place_): in presence or sight of (_Before_ God): under the cognisance of, as in before the court, the magistrate, or the house: previous to: in preference to: superior to.--_adv._ in front: sooner than hitherto.--_conj._ previous to the time when (often with _that_).--_advs._ BEFORE'HAND, before the time: by way of preparation; BEFORE'TIME, in former time.--TO BE BEFOREHAND WITH, to forestall in any action. [A.S. _beforan_. See FORE.]

BEFORTUNE, be-for't[=u]n, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to happen to, to befall.

BEFOUL, be-fowl', _v.t._ to make foul: to soil.

BEFRIEND, be-frend', _v.t._ to act as a friend to: to favour.

BEFRINGE, be-frinj', _v.t._ to adorn with fringes.

BEG. Same as BEY.

BEG, beg, _v.i._ to ask alms or charity, esp. habitually (with _of_, _from_; _for_, of the thing asked).--_v.t._ to ask earnestly: to beseech: to pray: to take for granted what ought to have been proved, esp. in the phrase in logic, 'to beg the question'--the fallacy of the _Petitio Principii_:--_pr.p._ beg'ging; _pa.p._ begged.--_n._ BEG'GAR, one who begs: one who lives by begging: a mean fellow, a poor fellow--often used with a playful and even affectionate sense.--_v.t._ to reduce to beggary: to exhaust or impoverish: (_fig._) to go beyond the resources of, as of description.--_ns._ BEG'GARDOM, the fraternity of beggars; BEG'GARLINESS.--_adj._ BEGGARLY, poor: mean: worthless.--_adv._ meanly.--_ns._ BEG'GAR-MY-NEIGH'BOUR, a game at cards which goes on till one of the players has gained all the other's cards; BEG'GARY, extreme poverty.--_adv._ BEG'GINGLY.--TO BEG OFF, to obtain another's release through entreaty, to seek that one's self may be relieved of some penalty or liability.--TO GO A-BEGGING, to be in want of a purchaser, or of a person to fill it (of a situation, &c.). [The ety. is very obscure; the words _beg_ and _beggar_ first appear in the 13th century, and Dr Murray thinks the most likely derivation is from the O. Fr. _begart_, _begard_, and _begar_ (L. _beghardus_ = _beghard_), or its synonym _beguine_ and derivative verb _beguigner_, _beguiner_, to act the beguin. The _Beghards_ or _Beguines_ were a lay mendicant order, and in the 13th century mendicants calling themselves by these names swarmed over Western Europe.]

BEGAD, be-gad', _interj._ a minced oath, softened from 'By God.'

BEGAN, b[=e]-gan', _pa.t._ of BEGIN.

BEGEM, be-jem', _v.t._ to adorn, as with gems.

BEGET, be-get', _v.t._ to produce or cause: to generate: to produce as an effect, to cause:--_pr.p._ beget'ting; _pa.t._ begat', begot'; _pa.p._ begot', begot'ten.--_n._ BEGET'TER, one who begets: a father: the agent that occasions or originates anything. [A.S. _begitan_, to acquire. See GET.]

BEGHARD. See BEG.

BEGIFT, be-gift', _v.t._ to present with gifts.

BEGILD, be-gild', _v.t._ to gild: to cover or overlay with gold-leaf.

BEGIN, be-gin', _v.i._ to take rise: to enter on something new: to commence.--_v.t._ to enter on: to commence (with _at_, _with_, _upon_):--_pr.p._ begin'ning; _pa.t._ began'; _pa.p._ begun'.--_ns._ BEGIN'NER, one who begins: one who is beginning to learn or practise anything; BEGIN'NING, origin or commencement: rudiments--(_Spens._) BEGINNE'.--_adj._ BEGIN'NINGLESS. [A.S. _beginnan_ (more usually _onginnan_), from _be_, and _ginnan_, to begin.]

BEGIRD, be-gird', _v.t._ to gird or bind with a girdle; to surround or encompass (_with_):--_pa.t._ begirt', begird'ed; _pa.p._ begirt'. [A.S. _begyrdan_. See GIRD.]

BEGLERBEG, b[.e]g'l[.e]r-b[.e]g, _n._ the governor of a Turkish province, in rank next to the grand vizier. [Turk., lit. 'bey of beys.']

BEGLOOM, be-gl[=oo]m', _v.t._ to render gloomy.

BEGNAW, be-naw', _v.t._ to gnaw or bite, to eat away.

BEGONE, be-gon', _interj._ lit. be gone! be off! get away! In WOE'-BEGONE', beset with woe, we have the _pa.p._ of A.S. _beg['a]n_, to go round, to beset.

BEGONIA, be-g[=o]n'ya, _n._ a genus of plants cultivated in our greenhouses for their pink flowers and their remarkable unequal-sided and often coloured leaves--'Elephant's Ears,' 'Angel's Wings.' [Named from the botanist Michel _Begon_, 1638-1710.]

BEGORED, be-g[=o]rd', _adj._ (_Spens._) besmeared with gore.

BEGOT, be-got', BEGOTTEN, be-got'n, _pa.p._ of BEGET.

BEGRIME, be-gr[=i]m', _v.t._ to grime or soil deeply.

BEGRUDGE, be-gruj', _v.t._ to grudge: to envy any one the possession of.

BEGUILE, be-g[=i]l', _v.t._ to cheat or deceive: to divert attention from anything tedious or painful: to divert or amuse: to wile any one into some course.--_ns._ BEGUILE'MENT; BEGUIL'ER.--_adv._ BEGUIL'INGLY. [See GUILE.]

BEGUINES, beg'in (see BEG).--_n._ BEGUINAGE (beg'in-[=a]j), an establishment for _Beguines_.

BEGUM, b[=e]'gum, _n._ a Hindu princess or lady of rank. [Urdu _begam_.]

BEGUN, be-gun', _pa.p._ of BEGIN.

BEHALF, be-h[:a]f', _n._ favour or benefit: cause: sake, account: part--only in phrases 'on,' 'in behalf of,' 'on his behalf.' [M. E. _behalve_--A.S. _be healfe_, by the side. See HALF.]

BEHAPPEN, be-hap'n, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to happen to.

BEHAVE, be-h[=a]v', _v.t._ to bear or carry, to conduct (with _self_).--_v.i._ to conduct one's self, also to conduct one's self well: to act.--_n._ BEHAVIOUR (be-h[=a]v'y[:u]r), conduct: manners or deportment, esp. good manners: general course of life: treatment of others.--TO BE UPON ONE'S BEHAVIOUR, to be placed where one's best behaviour is politic or necessary. [Formed, according to Dr Murray, in 15th century from _be-_ and HAVE; apparently unconnected with A.S. _behabban_.]

BEHEAD, be-hed', _v.t._ to cut off the head.--_ns._ BEHEAD'AL (_rare_); BEHEAD'ING, the act of cutting off the head.

BEHELD, be-held', _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of BEHOLD.

BEHEMOTH, b[=e]'he-moth, _n._ an animal described in the book of Job, usually taken to be the hippopotamus. [Either the pl. of Heb. _beh[^e]m[^a]h_, a beast, or a Hebraistic form of the Egyptian _p-ehe-mout_, 'water-ox.']

BEHEST, be-hest', _n._ command: charge. [A.S. _beh['ae]s_, a promise. See HEST.]

BEHIGHT, be-h[=i]t', _v.t._ (_Spens._) to promise, to entrust, to speak to, to command, to reckon or esteem to be:--_pr.p._ beh[=i]ght'ing; _pa.t._ beh[=o]te'; _pa.p._ beh[=i]ght.--_n._ (_obs._) a vow, a promise. [A.S. _beh['a]tan_, _be-_, and _h['a]tan_, to call.]

BEHIND, be-h[=i]nd', _prep._ at the back of (_place_, or as _support_): remaining after or coming after (_time_, _rank_, _order_): inferior to, or not so far advanced as.--_adv._ at the back, in the rear: backward: past.--_adj._ or _adv._ BEHIND'HAND, being behind: tardy, or in arrears of debt, &c.: clandestine. [A.S. _behindan_; Ger. _hinten_. See HIND.]

BEHOLD, be-h[=o]ld', _v.t._ to look upon: to contemplate.--_v.i._ to look: to fix the attention:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ beheld'.--_imper._ or _interj._ see! lo! observe!--_adj._ BEHOLD'EN, bound in gratitude: obliged (with _to_).--_n._ BEHOLD'ER, one who beholds: an onlooker.--_adj._ BEHOLD'ING (_Shak._), beholden.--_n._ (_Shak._) sight, contemplation. [A.S. _behealdan_, to hold, observe--pfx. _be-_, and _healdan_, to hold.]

BEHOOF, be-h[=oo]f', _n._ benefit: convenience (with _to_, _for_, _on_).

BEHOT, BEHOTE (_Spens._) _pa.t._ of BEHIGHT.

BEHOVE, BEHOOVE, be-h[=oo]v, _v.t._ to be fit, right, or necessary for--now only used impersonally with _it_.--_adj._ BEHOVE'FUL, useful: profitable.--_adv._ BEHOVE'FULLY (_obs._). [M. E. _beh['o]f_, dat. behove; A.S. _beh['o]fian_, to be fit, to stand in need of.]

BEHOWL, be-howl', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to howl at. Warburton first suggested this as an emendation for 'behold' in _Midsummer Night's Dream_, V. 379.

BEIGE, b[=a]zh, _n._ a woollen fabric made of undyed wool. [Fr.]

BEIN, b[=e]n, _adj._ and _adv._ (_Scot._) comfortable: well off: well found: (_slang_) good.--_n._ BEIN'NESS. [M. E. _bene_, of dubious origin; the derivation has been sought in Scand. _beinn_, or in L. _bene_, Fr. _bien_.]

BEING, b[=e]'ing, _n._ existence: substance: essence: any person or thing existing.--_adj._ B[=E]'ING, existing, present.--_adj._ B[=E]'INGLESS.--_n._ B[=E]'INGNESS. [From the _pr.p._ of BE.]

BEINKED, b[=e]-inkt', _p.adj._ smeared with ink.

BEJADE, be-j[=a]d', _v.t._ (_obs._) to tire out.

BEJAN, b[=e]'jan, _n._ a freshman at the universities of Aberdeen and St Andrews, and formerly in several continental universities. [Fr. _bejaune_, a novice, from _bec jaune_, 'yellow beak,' a term used for a nestling or unfledged bird.]

BEJESUIT, be-j[.e]z'[=u]-it, _v.t._ to initiate or seduce into Jesuitism.

BEJEWEL, be-j[=oo]'[.e]l, _v.t._ to deck with jewels.

BEKAH, b[=e]'ka, _n._ (_B._) a half-shekel (4.39 drs. avoir.). [Heb.]

BEKISS, be-kis', _v.t._ to cover with kisses.

BEKNAVE, be-n[=a]v', _v.t._ to call or treat as a knave.

BEKNOWN, b[=e]-n[=o]n', _p.adj._ known, acquainted.

BELABOUR, be-l[=a]'bur, _v.t._ to beat soundly.

BEL-ACCOYLE, bel-ak-koil', _n._ (_Spens._) favourable or kind reception. [O. Fr. _bel acoil_, fair welcome. See ACCOIL.]

BELACE, be-l[=a]s', _v.t._ to adorn with lace.

BELAMOUR, bel'a-m[=oo]r, _n._ (_Spens._) a gallant: a fair lady: a kind of flower. [Fr. _bel amour_, fair love.]

BELAMY, bel'a-mi, _n._ (_Spens._) a good or intimate friend. [Fr. _bel ami_, fair friend.]

BELATE, be-l[=a]t', _v.t._ to make late: to retard:--_pr.p._ bel[=a]t'ing; _pa.p._ bel[=a]t'ed.--_p.adj._ BEL[=A]T'ED, made too late: out of date: benighted.--_n._ BEL[=A]T'EDNESS.

BELAUD, be-lawd', _v.t._ to laud or praise highly.

[Illustration]

BELAY, be-l[=a]', _v.t._ (_naut._) to fasten a running rope by coiling it round a cleat or BELAY'ING-PIN: to make fast: (_Spens._) to lay ornament round anything.--BELAY THERE (_naut. slang_), hold! that is enough. [A.S. _belecgan_; Ger. _belegen_, Dut. _beleggen_. See LAY.]

BELCH, belch, belsh, _v.t._ to void wind from the stomach by the mouth: to eject violently: to cast up, as of the smoke from a volcano or a cannon.--_n._ eructation. [A.S. _bealcian_; Dut. _balken_.]

BELCHER, bel'sher, _n._ a neckerchief with dark-blue ground, mottled with white spots, each having a dark-blue spot in the centre. [From Jim _Belcher_, a famous English boxer.]

BELDAM, BELDAME, bel'dam, _n._ an old woman, esp. an ugly one: a hag, a furious woman: (_obs._) a grandmother. [Formed from _dam_, mother, and _bel-_, expressing relationship. Cf. _belsire_.]

BELEAGUER, be-l[=e]g'[.e]r, _v.t._ to lay siege to.--_n._ BELEAG'UERMENT. [Dut. _belegeren_, to besiege--_be_, and _leger_, camp. See LEAGUER.]

BELEE, be-l[=e]', _v.t._ (_Shak._) to place on the lee-side of.

BELEMNITE, bel'em-n[=i]t, _n._ a fossil pointed like a dart, being the internal shell of a genus of cephalopods, formerly known as _Thunder-bolt_, _Thunder-stone_, _Elf-bolt_. [Gr. _belemnit[=e]s_--_belemnon_, a dart.]

BELFRY, bel'fri, _n._ the part of a steeple or tower in which bells are hung: a bell-tower, sometimes standing apart: a movable wooden tower, used in the Middle Ages in attacking a fortification.--_adj._ BEL'FRIED, having a belfry. [Orig. and properly a watch-tower, from O. Fr. _berfroi_--Mid. High Ger. _berchfrit_--_frid_, _frit_, a tower, _bergan_, to protect.]

BELGARD, bel-g[:a]rd', _n._ (_Spens._) fair or kind looks. [It. _bel guardo_, lovely look.]

BELGIAN, bel'ji-an, _adj._ belonging to _Belgium_, a country of Europe.--_n._ a native of Belgium.

BELGIC, bel'jik, _adj._ pertaining to the _Belgae_ who anciently possessed Belgium, or to _Belgium_. [L. _Belgicus_--_Belgae_, the Belgians.]

BELGRAVIAN, bel-gr[=a]'vi-an, _adj._ belonging to _Belgravia_ (a fashionable part of London), or to fashionable life: aristocratic.

BELIAL, b[=e]l'yal, _n._ a name for the devil, and, in Milton, for one of the fallen angels. Not a proper name in Old Test. [Heb. _b'li-ya`al_, _b'li_, without _ya`al_, usefulness.]

BELIE, be-l[=i]', _v.t._ to give the lie to: to speak falsely of: to present in a false character: to counterfeit: to be false to: falsify: (_Shak._) to fill with lies:--_pr.p._ bely'ing; _pa.p._ bel[=i]ed'. [A.S. _be_, and LIE.]

BELIEVE, be-l[=e]v', _v.t._ to regard as true: to trust in.--_v.i._ to be firmly persuaded of anything: to exercise faith (with _in_, _on_): to think or suppose.--_n._ BELIEF', persuasion of the truth of anything: faith: the opinion or doctrine believed: intuition, natural judgment (as used by some philosophers).--_adjs._ BELIEF'LESS; BELIEV'ABLE, that may be believed.--_n._ BELIEV'ER, one who believes: a professor of Christianity.--_p.adj._ BELIEV'ING, trustful.--_adv._ BELIEV'INGLY.--THE BELIEF (_arch._), the Apostles' Creed.--TO MAKE BELIEVE, to pretend. [M. E. _bileven_--_bi-_, _be-_, and _leven_. Murray says that _believe_ is an erroneous spelling of the 17th century, prob. after _relieve_. The A.S. form _gel['e]fan_ survived to the 14th century; the present compound, which superseded it, appears in the 12th century.]

BELIKE, be-l[=i]k', _adv._ probably: perhaps. [A.S. pfx. _be-_, and LIKE.]

BELITTLE, be-lit'l, _v.t._ to make small: to cause to appear small, to depreciate or disparage.--_n._ BELIT'TLEMENT.--_adj._ BELIT'TLING. [Pfx. _be-_, and LITTLE.]

BELIVE, be-l[=i]v', _adv._ (_Scot._) with speed: soon, erelong. [M. E. _bi life_; _be_, _b['i]_, by, _life_, dat. of _l[=i]f_, life.]

BELL, bel, _n._ a hollow vessel of metal, which gives forth a ringing sound when struck by the tongue or clapper suspended inside--as in _church-bell_, _hand-bell_, _alarm-bell_, _night-bell_, _marriage-bell_, &c.: a corolla shaped like a bell: the body of a Corinthian or composite capital, without the surrounding foliage: anything bell-shaped, as in _diving-bell_, _bell-glass_, the _bell_ or outward-turned orifice of a trumpet, &c.: a bell rung to tell the hour: (_naut._) the bell struck on shipboard every half-hour as many times as there are half-hours of the watch elapsed--'two bells,' 'three bells,' &c., meaning that there are two or three half-hours past; the watch of four hours is eight bells.--_v.t._ to furnish with a bell, esp. in TO BELL THE CAT, to take the leading part in any hazardous movement, from the ancient fable of the mice who proposed to hang a warning bell round the cat's neck.--_ns._ BELL'COTE (_archit._), an ornamental [Illustration] structure made to contain one or two bells, and often crowned by a small spire; BELL'-CRANK, a rectangular lever in the form of a crank, used for changing the direction of bell-wires; BELL'-FOUND'ER, one who founds or casts bells; BELL'-GLASS, a bell-shaped glass for sheltering flowers; BELL'-HANG'ER, one who hangs and repairs bells; BELL'MAN, one who rings a bell, esp. on the streets, before making public announcements: a town-crier; BELL'-MET'AL, the metal of which bells are made--an alloy of copper and tin; BELL'-PUNCH, a hand-punch containing a signal-bell, used for punching a hole in a ticket in order to keep a record of the number of fares taken; BELL'-RING'ER, one whose business it is to ring a bell on stated occasions: a performer with musical hand-bells; BELL'-ROPE, the rope by which a bell is rung.--_adj._ BELL'-SHAPED.--_ns._ BELL'-TOW'ER, a tower built to contain one or more bells, a campanile; BELL'-TUR'RET, a turret containing a bell-chamber, usually crowned with a spire; BELL'-WETH'ER, the leading sheep of a flock, on whose neck a bell is hung: (_fig._) any loud, turbulent fellow, esp. the leader of a mob.--BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE, a phrase popularly used in reference to a form of excommunication ending with the words, 'Do to [shut] the book, quench the candle, ring the bell.'--TO BEAR or CARRY OFF THE BELL, to have or to gain the first place. [A.S. _belle_; cog. with Dut. _bel_.]

BELL, bel, _n._ a bubble formed in a liquid. [Ety. dub.; cf. Dut. _bel_, a bubble in water, perh. from L. _bulla_, bubble in water.]

BELL, bel, _v.i._ to bellow, roar: to utter loudly.--_n._ the cry of a stag at rutting-time. [A.S. _bellan_, to roar; cf. Ger. _bellen_.]

BELLADONNA, bel'la-don-na, _n._ the deadly nightshade or dwale, all parts of which are narcotic and poisonous from the presence therein of the alkaloid atropia: the drug prepared from the foregoing. [It. _bella donna_, fair lady; one property of belladonna is to enlarge the pupil, and so add a brilliance to the eyes.]

BELLARMINE, bel'lar-m[=e]n, _n._ a large stoneware drinking jug with a big belly and a narrow neck, decorated with a bearded face, originally that of Cardinal _Bellarmine_, made in mockery by the Dutch Protestants.

BELLE, bel, _n._ a handsome woman: the chief beauty of a place: a fair lady generally. [Fr. _belle_--L. _bella_, _bellus_.]

BELLES-LETTRES, bel-let'r, _n.pl._ polite or elegant literature, including poetry, fiction, criticism, aesthetics, &c.--_ns._ BELLET'RIST, BELLET'TRIST.--_adj._ BELLETRIS'TIC. [Fr., lit. 'fine letters.']

BELLIBONE, bel'i-b[=o]n, _n._ (_Spens._) a beautiful and good woman.

BELLICOSE, bel'ik-[=o]s, _adj._ contentious, war-like.--_adv._ BEL'LICOSELY.--_n._ BELLICOS'ITY. [L. _bellicosus_.]

BELLIED, bel'lid, _p.adj._ with a belly, esp. a big belly, pot-bellied: bulging: puffed out. [See BELLY.]

BELLIGERENT, bel-ij'[.e]r-[.e]nt, _adj._ carrying on regular war.--_n._ a party or person waging such.--_n._ BELLIG'ERENCY. [L. _belligerant-em_, _belliger[=a]re_, to wage war.]

BELLONA, bel'l[=o]-na, _n._ the Roman goddess of war--hence (_fig._) a woman of great spirit and vigour.

BELLOW, bel'l[=o], _v.i._ to roar like a bull: to make any violent outcry, often with sense of contempt or ridicule: to shout aloud: to roar, as of cannon, the ocean, &c.--with objective, to give forth a loud sound.--_n._ the roar of a bull: any deep sound or cry. [M. E. _belwen_; there is an A.S. _bellan_, to roar.]

BELLOWS, bel'l[=o]z, or bel'lus, _n.pl._ an instrument for producing a current of air so as to blow up a fire, either in a kitchen, a furnace, or a forge--or for producing the current of air by which the pipes and reeds of an organ are sounded: (_fig._) that which fans the fire of hatred, jealousy, &c.: the lungs. [Same as BELLY (q.v.); now used only in _pl._, the sing. not having survived the 15th century.]

BELLY, bel'li, _n._ the part of the body between the breast and the thighs, containing the bowels: the stomach, as the receptacle of the food: the bowels proper: the womb or uterus: the interior of anything: the bulging part of anything, as a bottle, or any concave or hollow surface, as of a sail: the inner or lower surface of anything, as opposed to the _back_, as of a violin, &c.--_adj._ ventral, abdominal: (_theol._) belonging to the flesh, carnal.--_v.i._ to swell or bulge out.--_ns._ BEL'LY-BAND, a saddle-girth: a band fastened to the shafts of a vehicle, and passing under the belly of the horse drawing it; BEL'LYFUL, a sufficiency; BEL'LY-GOD, one who makes a god of his belly, a glutton.--_p.adj._ BEL'LYING.--_n._ BEL'LY-TIM'BER, provisions. [M. E. _bali_, _bely_--A.S. _baelig_, _belig_; _baelg_, _belg_, bag.]

BELOMANCY, bel'o-man-si, _n._ a kind of divination by means of arrows. [Gr. _belos_, a dart, _manteia_, divination.]

BELONG, be-long', _v.i._ to go along with: to pertain to: to be one's property: to be a part of, or appendage of, or in any way connected with: to be specially the business of: (_U.S._) to be a native of, or have a residence in.--_n.pl._ BELONG'INGS, circumstances or relations of any person: possessions: persons connected, relatives: accessories. [_Bi-_, _be-longen_, intens. of _longen_, with pfx. _be-_. See LONG.]

BELOVED, be-luvd', or be-luv'ed, _p.adj._ much loved, very dear--often compounded with _well-_; _best-_, &c.--_n._ one who is much loved.--_adj._ BELOV'ING (_Shak._) = loving.

BELOW, be-l[=o]', _prep._ beneath in place, rank, or quality: underneath: not worthy of.--_adv._ in a lower place: (_fig._) on earth, or in hell, as opposed to heaven. [Pfx. _be-_, and adj. LOW.]

BELT, belt, _n._ a girdle, zone, or band: such a piece, as of leather, worn by way of ornament, or given as a prize or badge of victory in wrestling or the like: a broad strip of anything, different in colour or material: that which confines or restrains: (_geog._) a strait.--_v.t._ to surround with a belt, or to invest formally with such, as in knighting a man: to encircle: to thrash with a belt.--_p.adj._ BELT'ED, wearing a belt, of a knight: marked with a belt, as the 'belted kingfisher.'--_n._ BELT'ING, flexible belts for the transmission of motion in machinery, made of leather, indiarubber, &c.--as in _chainbelt_, _crossed belt_, _endless belt_, &c.; a thrashing.--TO HOLD THE BELT, to hold the championship in wrestling, boxing, or the like. [A.S. _belt_; Ice. _belti_, Gael. _balt_, L. _balteus_.]

BELTANE, bel't[=a]n, _n._ an ancient Celtic heathen festival, held in the beginning of May, when bonfires were lighted on the hills: the first day of May (O.S.)--one of the four old quarter-days of Scotland, the others being Lammas, Hallowmas, and Candlemas.--_adj._ in _Beltane_ games, &c. [Gael. _bealltainn_, _beilteine_; usually explained as 'Beal's fire,' _Beal_ being a supposed Celtic deity who has been courageously identified with the Baal or Bel of the Phoenicians and other Semitic peoples, and Gael. _teine_, fire. But even this last is doubtful.]

BELUGA, be-l[=oo]'ga, _n._ the white whale, one of the dolphin family, closely allied to the narwhal, 12 to 16 feet long, of creamy-white colour, found in droves round Greenland and all over the Arctic seas: applied also to a great Russian sturgeon--the _Acipenser Huso_. [Russ.]

BELVEDERE, bel've-d[=e]r, _n._ a pavilion or raised turret or lantern on the top of a house, open for the view, or to admit the cool evening breeze: a summer-house on an eminence in a park or garden. [It. _belvedere_; _bel_, beautiful, _vedere_, a view.]