Beshrew me, but I love her heartily. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Often a very mild form of imprecation; sometimes so far from implying a curse, as to be uttered coaxingly, nay even with some tenderness. --Schmidt. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
beshrew — [bē shro͞o′] vt. [ME bishrewen: see BE & SHREW] Archaic to curse: mainly in mild imprecations [beshrew thee] … English World dictionary
beshrew — (v.) early 14c., deprave, pervert, corrupt, from BE (Cf. be ) + shrew (v.) to curse; see SHREW (Cf. shrew). Meaning to invoke evil upon is from late 14c … Etymology dictionary
beshrew — verb A mildly imprecatory or merely expletive introductory exclamation, in the form of the imperative. Beshrew your heart, Fair daughter! ― Shakespeare … Wiktionary
beshrew — transitive verb Date: 14th century archaic curse … New Collegiate Dictionary
beshrew — /bi shrooh /, v.t. Archaic. to curse; invoke evil upon. [1275 1325; ME beshrewen. See BE , SHREW1] * * * … Universalium
beshrew — v. a. == curse. Rel. Ant. ii. p. 211 … Oldest English Words
beshrew — v. imprecate, curse, wish evil on someone or something, invoke evil upon, maledict … English contemporary dictionary
beshrew — v. a. Execrate, curse, wish evil to, implore a curse upon … New dictionary of synonyms
beshrew — be·shrew … English syllables
beshrew — be•shrew [[t]bɪˈʃru[/t]] v. t. archaic to invoke evil upon • Etymology: 1275–1325; ME; see be , shrew … From formal English to slang
