ppl. a. [f. prec. + -ED.]
1. Having the affections foolishly or dotingly engaged; infatuated.
1580. North, Plutarch (1676), 964. Antonius … besotted by Cleopatra.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Instr. Son, ii. (1651), 6. Haue … ever more care, that thou be beloved of thy wife, rather than thyself besotted on her.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, xxxii. (1811), I. 246. If you are not besotted to that man … you will like it.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. iii. 137. Never did besotted lover abandon himself to wilder folly.
2. Intellectually or morally stupefied or blinded.
1634. Milton, Comus, 790. Swinish gluttony … with besotted base ingratitude Crams and blasphemes his feeder.
1687. Reflect. on Hind & Panther, 25. The present State of our Church is more desireable, than the gross Ignorance and besotted Superstition of Italy and Spain.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., xvi. 271. A stupid besotted indifference to everything spiritual.
3. Intoxicated or muddled by a narcotic.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., ix. You besotted villains, you have been drinking.
1832. Marryat, N. Forster, v. Newton went down to rouse the besotted Thompson.
