betake: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/ArchaicLiterary, Formal, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “betake” mean?
To go or move to a place.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To go or move to a place; to have recourse to a course of action or state of being.
An archaic or literary verb meaning to take oneself to a place, or to apply oneself to a particular activity. It often implies a deliberate movement or a shift in one's physical or mental state.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic in both variants. No significant regional difference in usage.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of old-fashioned formality, purposefulness, or retreat. In British historical texts, it might be slightly more common.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary corpora for both. Found primarily in fixed literary or biblical phrases.
Grammar
How to Use “betake” in a Sentence
[Subject] betake [Reflexive Pronoun] to [Noun Phrase (Place/Activity)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “betake” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He betook himself to the library for solace.
- They betook themselves to the hills when the rains came.
American English
- She betook herself to the governor with her petition.
- The fox betook itself to its den.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in analysis of historical/literary texts.
Everyday
Not used. Would sound archaic and strange.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “betake”
- Using it in modern, informal contexts. Using it non-reflexively (e.g., 'I betake to the city' is incorrect; must be 'I betake myself...').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or literary and is very rarely used in contemporary speech or writing.
It is almost always used reflexively: 'betake oneself to [something]'.
The past tense is 'betook' and the past participle is 'betaken'.
Almost never in modern understanding. Its core meaning requires the reflexive object.
To go or move to a place.
Betake is usually literary, formal, archaic in register.
Betake: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈteɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈteɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “betake oneself to one's heels (to flee)”
- “betake oneself to one's bed”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BE' somewhere + TAKE yourself = BETAK E yourself there.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOURNEY FOR A CHANGE OF STATE (e.g., betaking oneself to study is embarking on a mental journey).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'betake' most appropriately used today?