besotv.
/bɪˈsɒt/ 1. transitive. To affect with a foolish, blinding affection; to cause to dote on; to infatuate with.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > besottedness, infatuation > cause infatuation [verb (transitive)]
infatuate?1555
besot1583
the mind > emotion > love > tenderness > foolish affection, excessive love or fondness > be infatuatedly fond or love to excess [verb (transitive)] > cause to dote on
bedolt1574
besot1583
1583 A. Nowell et al. True Rep. Disput. E. Campion sig. Aa4v He might be taken with the loue of his eies towards her, to be besotted with her.
1637 T. Heywood Dial. ii, in Wks. (1874) VI. 118 It shall besot thee on some sordid Swaine.
1675 R. Allestree Art Contentm. viii. 137 The kind aspects of the world are very enchanting, apt to inveigle and besot us.
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa I. xxxii. 221 If you are not besotted to that man..you will like it.
1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad I. iii. 137 Never did besotted lover abandon himself to wilder folly.
2. To make mentally or morally stupid or blind; to stupefy in mind.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupidity, dullness of intellect > render stupid [verb (transitive)]
sota1400
moider1587
duncify1594
effatuate1630
besot1634
incrassatea1660
cretinize1846
1634 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. Hist. New Test. (STC 12640.5) 114 Impiety is wont to besot men.
1660 T. Fuller Mixt Contempl. ii. xvii. 27 Till they besot their understandings.
1822 W. Hazlitt Men & Manners (1869) 2nd Ser. v. 122 Such persons are in fact besotted with words.
1877 W. Sparrow Serm. xix. 249 To besot the minds of men with ignorance and superstition.
3. To stupefy in the brain, make a sot of. (Said of narcotics.) Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > effects of drugs > have intoxicating effect on [verb (transitive)]
intoxicatea1566
besot1627
buzz1927
stone1959
to jack up1966
wipe1972
1627 M. Drayton Nimphidia in Battaile Agincourt 134 They no sooner tooke this drinke; But nought into their braines could sinke, Of what had them besotted.
1692 T. Tryon Good House-wife (ed. 2) xxvi. 209 Opium..stupifying and besotting them, even as the superfluous drinking of..strong Drinks does.
1755 E. Young Centaur ii, in Wks. (1757) IV. 137 Pleasure..has an opiate in it; it stupefies, and besots.
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond I. xiv. 324 I besotted myself, and gambled, and drank.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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