Be*stow" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestowed (&?;);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Bestowing.]
[OE. bestowen; pref. be- + stow a place. See
Stow.] 1. To lay up in store; to deposit for safe keeping; to stow; to place; to put. "He bestowed it in a pouch." Sir W. Scott.
See
that the women are bestowed in safety.
Byron.
2. To use; to apply; to devote, as time or strength in some occupation.
3. To expend, as money. [Obs.]
4. To give or confer; to impart; -- with on or upon.
Empire is on
us bestowed.
Cowper.
Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor.
1 Cor. xiii.
3.
5. To
give in marriage.
I could have
bestowed her upon a fine gentleman.
Tatler.
6. To demean; to conduct; to behave; -- followed by a reflexive pronoun. [Obs.]
How might we
see Falstaff bestow himself to-night in his
true colors, and not ourselves be seen ?
Shak.
Syn. -- To give; grant; present; confer; accord.
Hear it pronounced