- besetting
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/bi set"ing/, adj.constantly assailing or obsessing, as with temptation: a besetting sin.[1540-50; BESET + -ING2]
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Universalium. 2010.
besetting
Look at other dictionaries:
Besetting — Be*set ting, a. Habitually attacking, harassing, or pressing upon or about; as, a besetting sin. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
besetting — [bi set′iŋ] adj. constantly harassing or attacking [a besetting temptation] … English World dictionary
besetting — index hostile Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
Besetting — 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
besetting — be•set•ting [[t]bɪˈsɛt ɪŋ[/t]] adj. constantly assailing or obsessing: a besetting temptation[/ex] • Etymology: 1540–50 … From formal English to slang
besetting — /bəˈsɛtɪŋ/ (say buh seting), /bi / (say bee ) adjective constantly attacking, tempting, etc.: our besetting sins …
besetting idea — index compulsion (obsession) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
besetting 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 …
besetting sin — noun, pl ⋯ sins [count] : a main or constant problem or fault My besetting sin is a fondness for sweets … Useful english dictionary
besetting — adjective Date: 1634 constantly present or attacking ; obsessive … New Collegiate Dictionary
