besetting

  • 1Besetting — Be*set ting, a. Habitually attacking, harassing, or pressing upon or about; as, a besetting sin. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2besetting — [bi set′iŋ] adj. constantly harassing or attacking [a besetting temptation] …

    English World dictionary

  • 3besetting — index hostile Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 4Besetting — Beset Be*set , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beset}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Besetting}.] [AS. besettan (akin to OHG. bisazjan, G. besetzen, D. bezetten); pref. be + settan to set. See {Set}.] 1. To set or stud (anything) with ornaments or prominent objects.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5besetting — /bi set ing/, adj. constantly assailing or obsessing, as with temptation: a besetting sin. [1540 50; BESET + ING2] * * * …

    Universalium

  • 6besetting — be•set•ting [[t]bɪˈsɛt ɪŋ[/t]] adj. constantly assailing or obsessing: a besetting temptation[/ex] • Etymology: 1540–50 …

    From formal English to slang

  • 7besetting — /bəˈsɛtɪŋ/ (say buh seting), /bi / (say bee ) adjective constantly attacking, tempting, etc.: our besetting sins …

  • 8besetting idea — index compulsion (obsession) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 9besetting sin — /bəsɛtɪŋ ˈsɪn/ (say buhseting sin) noun a weakness to which one is particularly prone by virtue of one s own fundamental nature. Also, besetting vice …

  • 10besetting sin — noun, pl ⋯ sins [count] : a main or constant problem or fault My besetting sin is a fondness for sweets …

    Useful english dictionary

Pages