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behest (n.)
c. 1200, biheste, "a promise or pledge," from Old English behæs "a vow," perhaps from behatan "to promise" (from be- + hatan "command, call") and confused with obsolete hest "command," which may account for the unetymological -t as well as the Middle English shift in meaning to "command, injunction" (late 12c.). Both hatan and hest are from Proto-Germanic *haitanan, for which see hight.
updated on October 06, 2022
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Dictionary entries near behest
behaviour
behavioural
behead
beheld
behemoth
behest
behind
behindhand
behold
beholden
beholder