bestrew

English

Alternative forms

• bestrow
• bestraw (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English bistrewen, from Old English bestrēawian, bestrēowian (“to bestrew, besprinkle”), equivalent to be- +‎ strew. Cognate with Dutch bestrooien (“to sprinkle, bestrew”), German bestreuen (“to sprinkle, cover”), Swedish beströ (“to strew, sprinkle, scatter”).

Verb

bestrew (third-person singular simple present bestrews, present participle bestrewing, simple past bestrewed, past participle bestrewn)

1. (transitive) To strew or scatter about; throw or drop here and there.
2. (transitive) To strew anything upon; strew over or about; cover or partially cover with things strewn; cover with straw or strewing.

Translations

To strew or scatter about; throw or drop here and there

• Russian: осыпать (ru) (osypatʹ)
• Sanskrit: स्तृणोति (sa) (stṛṇoti), स्तृनाति (stṛnāti)

To strew anything upon; strew over or about; cover or partially cover with things strewn; cover with straw or strewing

• Russian: покрывать (ru) (pokryvatʹ)

Anagrams

• Webster, brewest, webster