Definition

1. Verb (past tense and past participle of "bethink"):
   • To cause oneself to remember or consider: "bethought" is the past form of "bethink," meaning to reflect, recall, or bring something to mind, often with a reflexive pronoun (e.g., "myself," "himself").
   • To think of a course of action: It implies a deliberate mental effort to recollect or decide upon something.

Usage Examples

• Reflexive use:

  • I bethought myself that I ought to write some letters. (I suddenly remembered that I needed to write letters.)
  • He bethought himself of a better solution to the problem. (He thought of a better solution after reflecting.)

• Without explicit reflexive pronoun (archaic):

  • She bethought to check the door before leaving. (She remembered to check the door.)

Advanced Usage

• "Bethought oneself of": a common construction meaning "to recall or think of something."

  • The traveler bethought himself of the map in his bag. (The traveler remembered the map was in his bag.)

• "Bethought to do something": to resolve or decide to do something after thinking.

  • He bethought to apologize for his harsh words. (He decided to apologize after reflection.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bethink (verb, base form): to cause oneself to consider or remember.

  • I must bethink me of my duties. (I must remember my responsibilities.)

• Bethinking (present participle): the act of reflecting or recalling.

  • Bethinking himself of the promise, he turned back. (Remembering the promise, he turned back.)

Synonyms

• Recall: to remember or bring back to mind.
• Reflect: to think deeply or carefully.
• Recollect: to remember something after an effort.
• Consider: to think about something carefully.

Related Idioms

• "Bethink oneself": an idiomatic phrase meaning to take time to think or remember.
  • Before answering, he bethought himself for a moment. (He paused to consider carefully.)

Usage Notes

• "Bethought" is considered archaic or literary in modern English, rarely used in everyday conversation. It appears mostly in classic literature, historical texts, or formal writing.
• The reflexive pronoun (e.g., "myself," "himself") is typically required in standard usage, though it may be omitted in very old or poetic contexts.