Wordul · all words

verb · 2 syllables · /bɪ'sɛt/

BESET

What does "BESET" mean?

To trouble or surround someone persistently, as by difficulties or attackers.

Meanings

  1. To trouble or harass persistently; to assail from all sides. Doubts beset her as the deadline approached.
  2. To surround or hem in, especially with hostile intent. The travelers were beset by bandits in the pass. literary
  3. To stud or cover with ornaments such as jewels. A crown beset with rubies sat on the table. archaic

Word origin

From Old English 'besettan', formed from 'be-' ('around, about') and 'settan' ('to set, place'), literally 'to set around'.

Remember it

BESET = 'be-set': trouble sets itself all around you. Picture problems literally 'set' on every side.

A little poem

From every side the small worries came-
not one was large enough to name,
yet together they laid siege all night.

tercet

Wordplay

  • The volleyball player was beset by trouble at the net - every time he tried to be set, the ball set on him instead.

What it teaches

What besets you rarely arrives as one great blow; it gathers as small troubles you let crowd in.

Quick facts

What does BESET mean?

To trouble or surround someone persistently, as by difficulties or attackers.

Is BESET a valid word?

Yes — BESET is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.

How many letters is BESET?

BESET has 5 letters and 2 syllables.

Where does BESET come from?

From Old English 'besettan', formed from 'be-' ('around, about') and 'settan' ('to set, place'), literally 'to set around'.

What can BESET teach us?

What besets you rarely arrives as one great blow; it gathers as small troubles you let crowd in.

How players do

Be the first to solve it.

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