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Definition 2024


besta

besta

See also: bêsta and bestå

Galician

Etymology

From Old Portuguese besta, probably a borrowing from Latin bēstia (beast).

Noun

besta f (plural bestas)

  1. beast (animal)
  2. mare
  3. (figuratively) brute

Synonyms


Old Portuguese

Alternative forms

Etymology

Probably a borrowing from Latin bēstia (beast).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbes̺.ta/

Noun

besta f

  1. beast (a non-human animal, especially large vertebrate quadrupeds)
  2. beast of burden, donkey

Synonyms

Descendants


Portuguese

Etymology 1

From Old Portuguese besta, probably a borrowing from Latin bēstia (beast). Doublet of bicha.

Alternative forms

  • bêsta (obsolete, noun only)

Pronunciation

Noun:

Verb:

Noun

besta f (plural bestas)

  1. beast (any large animal)
  2. beast of burden (animal used to transport cargo)
  3. ass (any of several species of horse-like animals)
  4. (pejorative) fool; idiot (stupid person)
  5. (euphemistic) the Beast; Satan
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms

Verb

besta

  1. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present indicative of bestar
  2. second-person singular (tu, sometimes used with você) affirmative imperative of bestar

Etymology 2

From Old Portuguese baesta (crossbow), from Latin ballista, from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα (ballístra). Not related to above meaning of Satan (folk etymology).

Pronunciation

Noun

besta f (plural bestas)

  1. crossbow (weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock)
Related terms
See also