bewake

English

Etymology

From Middle English bewaken (“to watch”), from Old English bewacian (“to watch, keep watch over”), equivalent to be- +‎ wake. Cognate with Dutch bewaken, German bewachen, Swedish bevaka, Danish bevåge.

Verb

bewake (third-person singular simple present bewakes, present participle bewaking, simple past and past participle bewaked)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To watch; keep watch over; guard.
2. (transitive) To awaken thoroughly; keep awake.
3. (transitive) To spend waking; watch through.
4. (intransitive) To keep awake; watch.
5. (transitive, obsolete) To watch over (a body); observe funeral rites for.

Related terms

• bewatch

Dutch

Verb

bewake

1. (dated or formal) singular present subjunctive of bewaken