beset

Meaning

Verb

• To surround or hem in.
• To attack or assail, especially from all sides.
• To decorate something with jewels etc.
• Of a ship, to get trapped by ice.

Origin

• From Middle English besetten, bisetten, from Old English besettan, from Proto-Germanic *bisatjaną, equivalent to be- + set. Cognate with Saterland Frisian besätte, West Frisian besette, Dutch bezetten, German Low German besetten, German besetzen, Danish besætte, Swedish besätta.