behatan

Old English

Etymology

From be- +‎ hātan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈxɑː.tɑn/, [beˈhɑː.tɑn]

Verb

behātan

1. to promise
   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "Saint Maur, Abbot"

     ...and behēt þæt hē wolde him hold bēon eallum...

     ...and promised that he would be friendly to them all...

   • The Legend of St. Andrew

     Ġēa hlāford, and hwæt ġif iċ swelcne mann ġemēte? Hwelċe mēde sċeal iċ him behātan?

     Yes lord, and what if I find someone like that? What kind of reward should I promise them?

Usage notes

• The Late West Saxon of Ælfric used this word for "to promise," while the Early West Saxon of King Alfred used ġehātan instead.

Conjugation

Conjugation of behātan (strong class 7)

infinitive	behātan	behātenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	behāte	behēt, behēht
second person singular	behǣtst	behēte, behēhte
third person singular	behǣtt, behǣt	behēt, behēht
plural	behātaþ	behēton, behēhton
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	behāte	behēte, behēhte
plural	behāten	behēten, behēhten
imperative
singular	behāt
plural	behātaþ
participle	present	past
	behātende	behāten

Descendants

• Middle English: bihaten, beheten, behoten
  • English: behote, behight
  • Scots: behecht