umbeset

U1M3B3E1S1E1T1

verb

To block, obstruct; act detrimentally toward.

OriginMiddle English umbesetten ← Old English ymbsettan ← Proto-West Germanic *umbisattjan →
Scrabble 11
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbumbeset (third-person singular simple present umbesets, present participle umbesetting, simple past umbeset, past participle umbeset or umbesetten)

present singular third person umbesets · participle present umbesetting · participle past umbesetten

  1. ScotlandarchaicdialectalTo block, obstruct; act detrimentally toward.

    The Lord Gordon ships with some friends. Monro umbesets his way; yet he escapes, ignorant of Monro's devyse.

    1828, John Spalding, The history of the troubles and memorable transactions in Scotland
    3 more examples

    […] to underly the law at the lext Justice-aire of Renfrew, for umbesetting the high-way, by way of Murder;

    1891, William Robertson, Historic Ayrshire, volume 1, page 9

    […] , and pressing to have bereft them of their lives by umbesetting of the high gates to that effect at divers times of before, […]

    1922, J. Maitland Thomson, The Public Records of Scotland, Maclehose, Jackson and co., page 48

    […] that king on one occasion, April 1535, having to grant a letter of protection in favour of him ‘and his wife and bairns’ against Sir Patrick Hepburn of Wauchtonne and thirty-four others for ‘umbesetting the highway for his slaughter.’

    1972 (originally 1901), William Baird, General Wauchope, Books for Libraries Press, page 16
  2. ScotlandarchaicdialectalTo overwhelm; cover completely.

    The Opponents Umbeset with Trickery.

    1885, John Humberger, The Conquest and Triumph of Divine Wisdom and Love in Predestination, J. L. Traiger, unmarked page
    2 more examples

    But soothly, of sithes the more I am umbeset with anguish of heart, and destitute of all men’s comfort, the more favourable and godly I find her to me.

    1952, Walter Milton, The Goad of Love, Faber & Faber, page 201

    Certainly a good soul umbeset with many diseases, and noyed with the heat of temptation, can not feel the sweetness of God’s love as it is in itself;

    1971, Richard Rolle, The Fire of Love, CCEL, page 164

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
besethinder

Origin

  1. Proto-West Germanic*umbisattjan“to set around, encompass”
  2. Old Englishymbsettan“to set around, surround, beset, encompass”
  3. Middle Englishumbesetten“to surround”
  4. Englishumbeset

From Middle English umbesetten (“to surround”), from Old English ymbsettan (“to set around, surround, beset, encompass”), from Proto-West Germanic *umbisattjan (“to set around, encompass”); equivalent to um- + beset or umbe- + set. Compare also Old English ymbsittan (“to sit around, surround”), Dutch omzetten (“to convert, transpose”), German umsetzen (“to move to another place, convert, transform, transplant, adjust, rearrange”).

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

umbeset. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/umbeset

MLA

“umbeset.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/umbeset. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “umbeset,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/umbeset.

Source: umbeset on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.