Behest Definition

bĭ-hĕst
noun
An authoritative command.
American Heritage
An order, command, or request.
Webster's New World
An urgent request.
I called the office at the behest of my assistant.
American Heritage

A command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request. [from 12th c.]

Wiktionary

A vow; a promise.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
verb

(obsolete) To promise; vow.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Behest

Noun

Singular:
behest
Plural:
behests

Origin of Behest

  • From Old English behǣs (“vow, promise”), from Proto-Germanic *bi (“be-”), *haisiz (“command”), from *haitaną (“to command”). Final -t by analogy with other similar words in -t. Related to Old English behātan (“to command, promise”), Middle Low German beheit, behēt (“a promise”). Compare also hest (“command”), hight.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English bihest vow from Old English behǣs keiə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Behest Sentence Examples

  • Simmons started her first modeling class at the age of 11, at the behest of her mother, who hoped it would help her gain confidence and overcome the bullies.

  • Compensation is paid to provide fair recompense to farmers who have animals slaughtered at our behest.

  • Lady Jane relinquished her crown to Mary at her father's behest on July 19, 1553.

  • Tragically the CP, at Stalin's behest, adopted a sectarian, ultra-left line, labeling the SPD ' social fascists ' .

  • Interestingly, much of this secrecy was at the behest of the actors themselves.

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Words Starting With

BBEBEH

Words Ending With

TSTEST

Unscrambles

behest

Words Starting With B and Ending With T

Starts With B & Ends With TStarts With BE & Ends With TStarts With B & Ends With ST

Word Length

6 Letter Words6 Letter Words Starting With B6 Letter Words Ending With T