besmearv.
/bɪˈsmɪə/ 1.
a. transitive. To smear over or about; to cover the surface generally or largely with any greasy, viscous, or sticky substance; usually with the notion of soiling or staining: to bedaub.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > soiled condition > soil [verb (transitive)] > smear
smear971
besmearc1050
slobber1529
slubber1530
smore1530
to-ray1562
slubbera1586
blur1592
beblur1598
beslubber1598
besmother1598
besmouche1600
slur1602
illine1615
slerga1758
slaister1773
gaum?1825
smarm1847
slob1851
maum1888
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > coating or covering with a layer > coat or cover with a layer [verb (transitive)] > smear or spread with a substance
smear971
dechea1000
cleamc1000
besmearc1050
clamc1380
glue1382
pargeta1398
overslame?1440
plaster?1440
beslab1481
strike1525
bestrike1527
streak1540
bedaub1558
spread1574
daub1598
paste1609
beplaster1611
circumlite1657
oblite1657
fata1661
gaum?1825
treacle1839
butter1882
slap1902
slather1941
nap1961
c1050 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 422/14 Interlitam, besmyred.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 159 Kimeð biforen his lauerd. bismuðeled & bi smeored.
1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale 50 Besmering and dawbing eche other with dirte and myer.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ii. sig. C The diuelish hag..With wicked herbes and oyntments did besmeare My body.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) v. i. 48 That face of his..was besmear'd As blacke as Vulcan, in the smoake of warre. View more context for this quotation
1777 W. Robertson Hist. Amer. (1783) II. 145 They besmear their children with the blood.
1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville (1849) 42 He..caused the bodies of the wagons to be..besmeared with a compound of tallow and ashes.
b. predicated of the unguent or viscous matter.
ΚΠ
1685 J. Dryden tr. Theocritus Despairing Lover in Sylvæ 113 Her gushing Blood the Pavement all besmear'd.
1726 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey V. xxii. 329 His batter'd front and brains besmear the stone.
c. intransitive (for reflexive). To become besmeared.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > soiled condition > become soiled [verb (intransitive)] > become besmeared
besmear1567
1567 G. Turberville Epitaphes, Epigrams f. 39 If face besmearde with often streames.
2. figurative. To sully, defile, pollute.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > sullying or staining of reputation > stain or sully [verb (transitive)]
filea1325
foulc1330
tache1390
dark?c1400
distain1406
smita1413
blemish1414
black?c1425
defoul1470
maculate?a1475
macule1484
tan1530
staina1535
spota1542
smear1549
blot1566
besmear1579
defile1581
attaint1590
soila1596
slubber1599
tack1601
woad1603
besmirch1604
blur1604
to breathe upon ——1608
be-smut1610
clouda1616
sullya1616
taint1623
smutch1640
blackena1649
to cast, put, throw (etc.) a slur on or upon (a person or thing)1654
beslur1675
tarnish1695
blackwash1762
carbonify1792
smirch1820
tattoo1884
dirten1987
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 245/2 That they bee not besmeered with any blame.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice v. i. 219 My honour would not let ingratitude so much besmere it. View more context for this quotation
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus (i. 10) 216 With the black coales of enuious and slanderous inuectiues striuing to besmeare them.
1867 Sat. Rev. 5 July Ministers vie with each other in getting themselues besmeared.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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v.c1050