WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Be*stead", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestead or Bested
Part of Speech : also
Etymology : [Pref. be- + stead a place.]
Definition : 1. To put in a certain situation or condition; to circumstance; to place. [Only in p. p.] They shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: . . . and curse their king and their God. Is. viii. 21. Many far worse bestead than ourselves. Barrow.

2. To put in peril; to beset.

Note: [Only in p. p.] Chaucer.

3. To serve; to assist; to profit; to avail. Milton.

(Obs.) Bestad. In sense 3 imp. also Besteaded.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913