betake

betake · verb¹

1. Middle English · inherited frombitaken
2. English todaybetake

From Middle English bitaken, equivalent to be- + take. Cognate with Danish betage (“to take, deprive, cut off”), Swedish beta (“to take, deprive, cut off”).

betake · verb²

1. Middle English · inherited frombetaken
2. English todaybetake

From Middle English betaken, bitaken, in form equivalent to be- + take, however, in sense from betæcen, betechen (“to beteach”). More at beteach.

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. To seize; lay hold of; take.
• from 17th c. To take oneself to; go or move; repair; resort; have recourse.
• from 16th c. To commit to a specified action.