v. For forms see STIR. [OE. bestyrian, f. BE- 2 + styrian to STIR.]
† 1. ? To heap or pile (a thing) about with. (OE.)
c. 890. K. Ælfred, Bæda, III. ii. (Bosw.). His þeʓnas mid moldan hit bestyredon and ʓefæstnedon.
2. To stir up, ‘to put into vigorous action’ (J.).
a. refl. To begin to move actively, to manifest activity, to busy oneself.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 3078. Alle they wolde heom bysteorre, Agayns him with ryght to weorre.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 6248. Bestir the and hardiliche fight.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 295. The shipmen stood in such a fere, Was none that might him self bestere.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 512. Not much otherwise this good man Osorius here doth besturre himselfe agaynst the Lutherans.
1611. Bible, 2 Sam. v. 24. Then thou shalt bestirre thy selfe.
1767. Fordyce, Serm. Yng. Wom., I. vi. 215. She bestirs herself with the utmost activity.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Weal & Woe, i. 11. Just bestir yourself to plant your potatoes.
1867. Smiles, Huguenots Eng., vi. (1880), 93. The townspeople … bestirred themselves in aid of the poor refugees.
b. trans. To rouse into activity, make active. To bestir one’s stumps (obs.): to move one’s limbs actively, to exert oneself: see STIR.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Heb. xii. 1. Bestyre youre werye handes.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse, 4. The duety of every man in a common wealth one way or other to bestirre his stoomps.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 407. This raungyng Rhetorician besturreth his stumps so earnestly.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. ii. 58. No Maruell, you haue so bestir’d your valour.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 59. Bestirring their Hand and Tools.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 178. More need that heirs, His natural protectors, should assume The management, bestir their cousinship.
c. intr.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. i. 3. Speake to th’Mariners: fall too’t, yarely, or we run our selues a ground, bestirre, bestirre.
3. To move, stir, agitate (a thing).
1813. Byron, Giaour, 377. Methought Some motion from the current caught Bestirr’d it more.
