bescreen: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / ArchaicPoetic / Literary / Historical
Quick answer
What does “bescreen” mean?
To cover, conceal, or obscure with or as if with a screen.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cover, conceal, or obscure with or as if with a screen.
To hide something from view, to veil, to shelter something from sight or observation. In historical or poetic usage, it can imply providing a protective covering or barrier.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is equally rare and archaic in both varieties. No significant usage differences exist.
Connotations
Poetic, old-fashioned, somewhat formal.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency. May be encountered in Shakespearean texts or 19th-century literature.
Grammar
How to Use “bescreen” in a Sentence
[Subject] bescreens [Object] (from [Observer])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bescreen” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The heavy fog bescreened the entire valley from our sight.
- He sought to bescreen his motives with kind words.
American English
- Tall trees bescreened the cabin from the road.
- She tried to bescreen her embarrassment with a laugh.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical or literary analysis.
Everyday
Not used in contemporary speech.
Technical
No technical usage.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bescreen”
- Using it in contemporary contexts.
- Confusing it with 'besiege' or 'bespeak'.
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The mist bescreened' is incorrect; needs an object).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or poetic. It is not used in modern everyday English.
Yes, in literary contexts it can be used metaphorically, e.g., 'to bescreen the truth' or 'to bescreen one's intentions'.
'Screen' often means to test, evaluate, or protect (e.g., screen candidates, screen a porch). 'Bescreen' is more narrowly focused on the act of covering or concealing from view.
For learners, it is a word to recognize and understand in historical/literary texts, not a word to actively use in speech or writing.
To cover, conceal, or obscure with or as if with a screen.
Bescreen is usually poetic / literary / historical in register.
Bescreen: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈskriːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈskrin/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Night bescreened their retreat.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BEhind a SCREEN' – to put something behind a screen is to BESCREEN it.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEING IS KNOWING / NOT SEEING IS NOT KNOWING (To bescreen is to prevent knowing by preventing seeing).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'bescreen' be MOST appropriate?