v. Forms: 4–5 bydewe, 4–7 bedeaw, 5– bedew. [f. BE- + DEW; cf. MHG. betouwen, MLG. bedauwen.]
1. passive. To be wetted with dew; hence active, To cover with dew-like moisture.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIV. ii. (1495), 468. Yf good londe is bydewed … it fattyth.
1665–6. Phil. Trans., I. 257. The outside of the Metalline Vessel will be bedew’d (if I may so speak) with … Drops of Water.
1706. Addison, Rosamond, II. vi. In the dreadful pains of death, When the cold damp bedews your brow.
1830. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., II. vi. (1851), 159. The moisture which bedews a cold metal or stone when we breathe upon it.
2. transf. To wet or moisten gently or by drops; also, poet. or rhet., to perfuse with moisture.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. vii. 144. Þe fletyng reyne bydeweþ þe wynter.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (1495), 140. The ryver of Nyle that bedewyth and watreth the londe.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 53. As though it were bedewed … with honie.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. iii. 99. Bedew Her Pastors Grasse with faithfull English Blood.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 16. And all the while salt teares bedeawd the hearers cheaks.
a. 1674. Milton, in Birch, Milton’s Wks. (1738), I. 43. That Herod had well bedew’d himself with Wine.
1746. Smollett, Tears Scotl., 43. While the warm blood bedews my veins.
1864. H. Ainsworth, Tower Lond., 363. Tears bedewed her cheeks.
3. fig. To perfuse with any influence figured as like dew in its operation.
1340. Ayenb., 94. Þe virtues þet þe Holy Gost bedeaweþ myd his grace.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 301/4. I shalle arrouse and bydewe her body with so ardaunt desyre.
1639. Rouse, Heav. Univ., iv. 33. When the soul is inwardly bedewed … by the Spirit.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 336. So did the Apostles bedew the souls of believers with the word of godliness.
