Definition

1. Verb (transitive, archaic or formal):
   • To cause (oneself) to consider or remember something; to remind oneself: To deliberately bring a thought, memory, or idea to one's own mind.
   • To consider or ponder something carefully: To reflect upon or think about a matter.

Usage

• Verb (with reflexive pronoun):
  • The verb is most commonly used reflexively, followed by "of," "that," or "how." The structure is typically: bethink oneself of something.
  • It is a formal, literary, or archaic word rarely used in modern everyday conversation.

Examples

• Verb:
  • He bethought himself of a clever solution to the problem. (He reminded himself of / thought of a clever solution.)
  • I bethought me that I had promised to call her. (I remembered that I had promised to call her.)
  • She paused to bethink how best to answer. (She paused to consider carefully how best to answer.)

Advanced Usage

• "To bethink oneself": To recollect or come to a realization after some thought.
  • After a moment, he bethought himself and apologized for his harsh words.
• Used in a formal or narrative context to indicate a character's process of reflection or sudden recollection.

Variants and Related Words

• Bethought: The past tense and past participle form of "bethink."
  • He suddenly bethought himself of the key under the mat.

Synonyms

• Remember: To recall from memory.
• Recall: To bring back to mind.
• Consider: To think about carefully.
• Reflect on: To think deeply or carefully about.
• Ponder: To think about something carefully.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning involves an active, deliberate process of directing one's thoughts to a specific subject, memory, or course of action. It often implies a moment of realization or deliberate contemplation.

Verb

1. consider or ponder something carefully
   • She bethought her of their predicament
2. cause oneself to consider something