Obs. Also 2 bihaste, 6 beheast; pa. pple. 6 behest. [f. prec. sb.] trans. (or with subord. cl.) To vow, promise.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 185. Þu … bihastest us wiþ þon þet we neomen hit heouenliche blissen.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, II. xii. (1554), 51. God hath behested to Dauid and his lyne … In Jerusalem how they shal succede.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 29.
1477. Marg. Paston, in Lett., 809, III. 215. The gyrdyl that my fadyr be hestyt me.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 3 b. I haue behest a pygge to saynt Anthony.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Luke xiii. 3. Thou haddest euen vowed and beheasted thy selfe to utter ruine.
1566. Gascoigne, Jocasta, Wks. (1587), 92. As much as late I did behest to thee.
