beslobber: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowLiterary, archaic, humorous, pejorative
Quick answer
What does “beslobber” mean?
To wet or smear liberally with saliva, often from slobbering or drooling on someone or something. Literally, to cover with slobber.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To wet or smear liberally with saliva, often from slobbering or drooling on someone or something. Literally, to cover with slobber.
1. To praise or fawn upon in an excessively effusive, servile, or sentimental manner. 2. (Figurative) To coat or cover thoroughly with something unpleasantly wet or sticky, similar to slobber. 3. To kiss or nuzzle with messy, slobbery affection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare and stylistically marked in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a distasteful, messy, and overly emotional act, whether literal or figurative.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech or writing in both regions. It might appear slightly more often in British historical literature, but this is not a significant distinction.
Grammar
How to Use “beslobber” in a Sentence
[Subject] beslobber [Object] (with [Instrument])[Subject] beslobber [Object] with kisses/flattery/praiseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beslobber” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The spaniel would gleefully beslobber every guest with its wet, affectionate greetings.
- The critic accused the biographer of beslobbering his subject with unwarranted adulation.
American English
- My nephew's baby brother managed to beslobber the entire touchscreen of my tablet.
- The politician was beslobbered with praise by his most sycophantic supporters.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable in standard use.
American English
- Not applicable in standard use.
adjective
British English
- The beslobbered manuscript was barely legible.
- He gave a beslobbering speech full of mawkish sentiment.
American English
- The dog's favorite toy was a beslobbered tennis ball.
- She rejected his beslobbering compliments as insincere.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Rarely used, possibly in literary criticism to describe excessively sentimental writing or groveling characters.
Everyday
Virtually never used. If used, it would be for humorous or hyperbolic effect (e.g., 'The puppy beslobbered my new trousers.').
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beslobber”
- Confusing it with 'besmear' or 'bedraggle', which don't specifically involve saliva. Misspelling as 'beslobbered' (correct) but pronouncing it with a hard 'o' (/sləʊbər/) is incorrect. The stress is on the second syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and considered literary or archaic. You are unlikely to encounter it in everyday modern English.
Almost never. Its connotations of messiness (literal slobber) or insincere, over-the-top flattery (figurative slobber) are inherently negative or humorous.
'Slobber' is the act of drooling or the saliva itself. 'Beslobber' is a verb meaning to *cover* something or someone *with* that slobber, either literally or metaphorically. The 'be-' prefix often adds a sense of 'all over' or 'thoroughly'.
For English learners, it is a word to recognise for reading comprehension, not for active use. Its rarity and specific negative tone make it unsuitable for most contexts. Knowing its meaning can help you understand older texts or sophisticated insults.
To wet or smear liberally with saliva, often from slobbering or drooling on someone or something. Literally, to cover with slobber.
Beslobber is usually literary, archaic, humorous, pejorative in register.
Beslobber: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈslɒbə/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈslɑːbər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BESotted (infatuated) dog who SLOBBERS all over you. To beslobber is to be slobbered on, literally or with messy, excessive praise.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCESSIVE PRAISE/EMOTION IS A PHYSICAL LIQUID (that dirties or smothers). FLATTERY IS SLOBBER.
Practice
Quiz
In its figurative sense, 'beslobber' most closely means: