becripple: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ArchaicLiterary, Archaic, Formal
Quick answer
What does “becripple” mean?
To make someone or something crippled.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make someone or something crippled; to disable or impair severely.
To cause a significant reduction in functionality, effectiveness, or progress; to render something severely hampered or non‑functional.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic and rare in both varieties. No significant regional difference in usage.
Connotations
Both varieties perceive it as an old‑fashioned, literary word with a strong negative impact.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary corpora for both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “becripple” in a Sentence
[Subject] becripple [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “becripple” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The injury could becripple his sporting career.
- The new regulations threaten to becripple the industry.
American English
- The software bug could becripple the entire network.
- Such a loss would becripple their financial stability.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival use.
American English
- No standard adjectival use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts.
Academic
Might appear in historical or literary studies discussing older texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday speech.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “becripple”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “becripple”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “becripple”
- Using it in contemporary writing or speech.
- Confusing it with 'cripple' (which can be both verb and noun in modern use).
- Misspelling as 'be cripple' (two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic. The verb 'cripple' or 'disable' are used instead.
Only in very specific historical or literary contexts. In contemporary formal writing, it would seem odd and outdated.
In modern English, 'cripple' as a verb means 'to make someone or something crippled'. 'Becripple' is an archaic synonym with the same meaning, formed with the prefix 'be‑'.
For active use, no. You should recognise it if you encounter it in older texts, but for your own speaking and writing, use 'cripple', 'disable', 'hamper', or 'paralyse' instead.
To make someone or something crippled.
Becripple: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈkrɪp(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈkrɪp(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated with this archaic term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BEfore you CRIPPLE something, you BECRIPPLE it (archaic cause‑and‑effect).
Conceptual Metaphor
CAUSING DAMAGE IS MAKING CRIPPLED.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest modern synonym for 'becripple'?