v. arch. Forms: 4 be-, byschrewe, bishrewe, (6 bescro), 6–7 beshrow(e, 4–7 beshrewe, 5– beshrew. [f. BE- 2 + SHREW v.]
† 1. trans. To make wicked or evil; to deprave, pervert, corrupt. Obs.
c. 1325. Poem temp. Edw. II., 45. Þis world is al beshrewed.
1382. Wyclif, Prov. x. 9. Who forsothe beshrewith [1388 makith schrewid; Vulg. depravat] his weies, shal be maad opene. Ibid., 1 Kings xi. 4. The herte of hym is beshrewid bi wymmen.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 63. His herte is all beshrewed.
1556. Abp. Parker, Psalter lvi. 161. What flesh can do, though all beshrowd, I feare no whit at all.
† 2. To treat evilly, use ill, abuse. Obs.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems, 115. Thus they went from the game begylyd and beglued Nether on other wyst hom they went beshrewyd.
† 3. To invoke evil upon, to wish (one) all that is bad, to invoke a curse on; to curse, objurgate, or blame greatly, as the cause of misfortune. Obs.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. IV. 168. A schireues clerke byschrewed al þe route.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 844. Now elles, frere, I bishrewe thy face. Quod this Somonour, and I bishrewe me But if I telle tales two or thre Of freres.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), II. 88. Hye the faster, I beshrew thi skynne.
1533. More, Debell. Salem, Wks. 948/2. I durste well in the same worde (Some saye) beshrewe hym, and beshrowe hym agayne.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. ix. 280. He hath just cause to beshrew his fingers.
1682. N. O., Boileau’s Lutrin, II. 106. Trembling she lay, and in her heart beshrewed him.
b. Now only in imprecatory expressions (beshrew me, thee, etc.): ‘Evil befall, mischief take, devil take, curse, hang!’; also, with weakened force, ‘plague on,’ and often humorous or playful. arch. [Perhaps not imperative, but an elliptical form like (I) thank you! (I) pray! (I) prithee!]
1566. T. Stapleton, Ret. Untr. Jewel, iii. 63. Then beshrowe the lyar.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 55. Marry beshrew my hand, If it should giue your age such cause of feare. Ibid. (1604), Oth., IV. iii. 78. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong For the whole world.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), 85. Beshrew the sombre pencil! said I.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, ii. Beshrew me if thou passest this door with dry lips.
1856. Bryant, Strange Lady, iii. Be-shrew my erring bow!
