besweeten

== English == === Etymology === From be- +‎ sweeten. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) enPR: bĭswēʹtn, IPA(key): /bɪˈswiːtn̩/ Rhymes: -iːtən === Verb === besweeten (third-person singular simple present besweetens, present participle besweetening, simple past and past participle besweetened or (obsolete) besweetned) (literary, rare) Sublimely sweeten. 1648, Robert Herrick, Hesperides (1969 reprint, Scolar Press facsimiles), “Oberon’s Feast”, lines 15–17 (pages 136–137) A pure ſeed-Pearle of Infant dew, // Brought and beſweetned in a blew // And pregnant violet; […] === References === “besweeten” listed as a derivation of “Be- prefix”, treated on pages 719–723 of volume I (A–B) of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles [1st ed., 1885]  Be- prefix: — OE. be-, weak or stressless form of the prep. and adv. bí (biᵹ), By. […] 2. Forming intensive verbs, with sense of ‘thoroughly (extension of 1), soundly, much, conspicuously, to excess, ridiculously.’ […] besweeten […] 1648 Herrick Hesp. I. 166 Dew..*besweetned in a..violet.