bethink
/bi'θiɳk/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- consider or ponder something carefully
- She bethought her of their predicament
- cause oneself to consider something