v. Obs. For forms see STAND. [Com. Teut.: OE. bestanden = OS. bistân (Du. bestaan), OHG. bistân, pistantan (MHG. bestân, bestên, mod.G. bestehen), Goth. (and OTeut.) bistandan, f. bi-, BE- about + standan to stand.]

1

  1.  trans. To stand by or near; to stand over (in solicitude); esp. to stand by (the dead), to mourn for. Also absol.

2

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xxiii. 2. Abraham hiʓ bestod on þa ealdan wisan.

3

c. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1438. He cumeþ and fareþ and beod and bid, And heo bistant [v.r. bistarte] and oversit.

4

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3857. Ðor wæs Moyses sister dead; Ðat folc … after wune faire hire bistod Mid teres.

5

  2.  To stand round in hostility; to beset, press hard upon, harass.

6

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John x. 24. Ða bestodon [c. 1160 Hatton be-stoden] þa iudeas hyne utan.

7

c. 1205.  Lay., 30323. Swa bið a bar wilde … bistonden mid hunden.

8

c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., I. xxxiv. Stormes hem bistode.

9

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur (1816), II. 417. In all my life was I never thus bestood. Ibid., II. 466. He is full straitly bestood with a false traitor.

10

  3.  To surround, encompass (as a wall, water, etc.).

11

c. 1205.  Lay., 23726. I þan aitlonde þat mid watere is bistonde. Ibid., 17175. Ich wat a wærc mid wundere bi-stonde.

12