biheste

Middle English

Alternative forms

• beheste, be-heste, be-heyste, biheest, biheeste, bi-hest, byheeste, by-heste
• behese, bihæste, biheaste (Early Middle English)

Etymology

From Old English behǣs (“vow”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihaisi; equivalent to bi- +‎ heste (“directive”). The final vowel is generalised from the Old English oblique forms, while forms with final /t/ are influenced by the suffix -the.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /biˈhɛst(ə)/, /biˈhɛːst(ə)/

Noun

biheste (plural bihestes)

1. A pact or agreement; that which is agreed upon.
2. (uncommon) A directive; a command or request.

Descendants

• English: behest
• Middle Scots: behest, beheist

References

• “bihēst(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.