v. Obs.; also 4–5 bisit. [OE. besittan to sit about, besiege, f. BE- 1 + sittan to SIT. The primary verb, of which BESET is the causal.]
1. trans. To encamp about, besiege.
a. 1100. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1087. Se cyng … let besittan þone castel. Ibid. (1154), an. 1135. Te king it besæt.
2. To sit upon; to lie heavy upon; to weigh upon.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 110. Hit schal bisitten oure soules sore atte laste. Ibid. (1377), B. X. 361. It shal bisitten vs ful soure, þe siluer þat we kepen.
3. To sit properly upon (as a dress): to fit, suit, become. Cf. F. seoir.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xiv. 73. This … bisittith not his wisdom.
c. 1471. Fortescue, Wks. (1869), 463. Yt besatt not his magnifycence to have done otherwise.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 227. Affections for to change it well besits.
1614. C. Brooke, Ghost Rich. III. Yeelding thoughts besit the basest slaves.
