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Webster 1913 Edition

Besmear

Be-smear′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Besmeared
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Besmearing
.]
To smear with any viscous, glutinous matter; to bedaub; to soil.
Besmeared
with precious balm.
Spenser.

Webster 1828 Edition

Besmear

BESME'AR

,
Verb.
T.
[be and smear.] To bedaub; to overspread with any viscous, glutinous matter, or with any soft substance that adheres. Hence, to foul; to soil.

Definition 2024

besmear

besmear

English

Verb

besmear ‎(third-person singular simple present besmears, present participle besmearing, simple past and past participle besmeared)

  1. (transitive) To smear over; smear all over; sully.
    • 1734, William Stukeley, Of the Gout, page 57:
      ...carters and coachmen, who make in imitation thereof a composition of grease and tar, with which they besmear the inside of the naves of wheels and the extremitys of the axis upon which they move.
    • 2012 January 26, Jim Vandehei, Mike Allen, “Drudge, conservative media criticize Newt Gingrich”, in Politico:
      His public record is already besmeared with tawdry divorces,…

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English bismerwen, from Old English besmirwan, besmierwan ‎(“to besmear”), equivalent to be- +‎ smear. Cognate with Dutch besmeren ‎(“to besmear”), German beschmieren ‎(“to besmear”).

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

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