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To strike repeatedly; to lay repeated blows upon; as, to beat one's breast; to beat iron so as to shape it; to beat grain, in order to force out the seeds; to beat eggs and sugar; to beat a drum. Thou shalt beat some of it [spices] very small. Ex. xxx. 36. They did beat the gold into thin plates. Ex. xxxix. 3.…

To render calm or quiet; to calm; to still; to appease. Soft whispering airs . . . becalm the mind. Philips.

In order that; that. [Obs.] And the multitude rebuked them because they should hold their peace. Matt. xx. 31. Because of, by reason of, on account of. [Prep. phrase.] Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Eph. v. 6.

A European fish (Pagellus centrodontus); the sea bream or braise.

accord with, in character or circumstances; to be worthy of, or proper for; to cause to appear well; -- said of persons and things. It becomes me so to speak of so excellent a poet. Dryden. I have known persons so anxious to have their dress become them, as to convert it, at length, into their proper self, and thus act…

s) parasitic in beehives. -- Bee bird (Zoöl.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird. -- Bee flower (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus Ophrys (O. apifera), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects. -- Bee fly (Zoöl.), a two winged fl…

A bird of the genus Merops, that feeds on bees. The European species (M. apiaster) is remarkable for its brilliant colors.

ation, or preliminary; previously; aforetime. They may be taught beforehand the skill of speaking. Hooker.

Beggarly appearance. [R.] The freedom and the beggary of the old studio. Thackeray.

Delayed beyond the usual time; too late; overtaken by night; benighted. "Some belated peasant." Milton. -- Be*lat"ed*ness, n. Milton.

To make little or less in a moral sense; to speak of in a depreciatory or contemptuous way. T. Jefferson.

An herbaceous European plant (Atropa belladonna) with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries. The whole plant and its fruit are very poisonous, and the root and leaves are used as powerful medicinal agents. Its properties are largely due to the alkaloid atropine which it contains. Called also deadly nigh…

A European fish (Centriscus scolopax), distinguished by a long tubular snout, like the pipe of a bellows; -- called also trumpet fish, and snipe fish.

enough. Lloyd. King James told his son that he would have his bellyful of parliamentary impeachments. Johnson.

A platform from which speakers addressed an assembly. Mitford.

A reedlike grass; a stalk of stiff, coarse grass. His spear a bent, both stiff and strong. Drayton.

The season when pigeons are said to feed on bents, before peas are ripe. Bare benting times . . . may come. Dryden.

A tree of the Orange family (Citrus bergamia), having a roundish or pear-shaped fruit, from the rind of which an essential oil of delicious odor is extracted, much prized as a perfume. Also, the fruit. (b) A variety of mint (Mentha aquatica, var. glabrata).

A European duck (Anas tadorna). See Sheldrake.

e. I beseech you, punish me not with your hard thoughts. Shak. But Eve . . . besought his peace. Milton.