behest

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English biheste, from Old English behǣs (“vow, promise”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihaisi, from *bi- (“be-”) +‎ *haisi (“command”), from Proto-Germanic *haisiz, from *haitaną (“to command”). Final -t by analogy with other similar words in -t. Related to Old English behātan (“to command, promise”), Middle Low German beheit, behēt (“a promise”). Compare also hest (“command”), hight. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /bɪˈhɛst/ (General American) IPA(key): /bɪˈhɛst/, /biˈhɛst/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /bɪˈhest/, /biˈhest/ Rhymes: -ɛst === Noun === behest (plural behests) A command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request; now usually in the phrase at the behest of and at one's behest. [from 12th c.] (obsolete) A vow; a promise. c. 1440, Markaryte Paston, letter to John Paston The time is come that I should send it her, if I keep the behest that I have made. ==== Derived terms ==== behest loan ==== Translations ==== === Verb === behest (third-person singular simple present behests, present participle behesting, simple past and past participle behested) (obsolete) To promise; vow. === Anagrams === Bethes, Thebes, Thêbes, bethes, thebes