bedim: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (literary/archaic)Literary, poetic, formal; considered archaic or dated in modern everyday speech.
Quick answer
What does “bedim” mean?
To make dim, darken, or obscure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make dim, darken, or obscure; to cloud or blur.
Often used metaphorically to describe the process of making something less clear, vivid, or prominent, whether physically (like light or vision) or abstractly (like memory, understanding, or reputation).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it evokes a formal, old-fashioned, or deliberately poetic tone.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary corpora for both BrE and AmE. Slightly more likely to be encountered in historical or literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “bedim” in a Sentence
NP V NP (transitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bedim” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The steady rain began to bedim the windscreen, making driving hazardous.
- Time had not bedimmed her recollection of that summer.
American English
- The politician's scandal bedimmed his once-bright legacy.
- Smoke from the fireplace bedimmed the cabin's interior.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, but may appear in literary analysis or historical writings to describe the obscuring of ideas or events.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound unnatural and archaic.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bedim”
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The room bedimmed' is incorrect; must be 'Something bedimmed the room').
- Confusing it with 'begrime' (to make dirty).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a literary, formal, or archaic word. It is very rare in everyday spoken or written English.
Yes, it is frequently used metaphorically. For example, you can bedim someone's memory, hopes, or understanding.
The standard past tense and past participle is 'bedimmed' (e.g., 'The storm bedimmed the sky').
No, there is no direct noun form. Related nouns would be 'dimness' or 'obscurity'.
To make dim, darken, or obscure.
Bedim is usually literary, poetic, formal; considered archaic or dated in modern everyday speech. in register.
Bedim: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈdɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈdɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: You put a BED over a bright light to DIM it → BEDIM it.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING/CLARITY IS LIGHT; CONFUSION/OBSCURITY IS DARKNESS. (e.g., 'Bedim the truth').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the verb 'bedim' most appropriately used?