ENGLISH
REFERENCE

beseem

v.
be·seem Archaic
Synonyms
Origin

PIE word *h₁epi From Middle English bisemen (“to beseem”) [and other forms], from be-, bi- (prefix forming transitive verbs with a completive, figurative, or intensifying sense) + semen (“to seem; to be or see as appropriate; to be visible or apparent; to regard”). Semen is derived from Old Norse sœma (“to conform to; to befit, beseem”), from Proto-Germanic sōmijaną (“to fit; to unite”), from Proto-Indo-European sem- (“one; whole”). The English word is analysable as be- (prefix with an intensifying sense) + seem.

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