noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/bɪˈhɛst/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/bɪˈhɛst/
General-American:/biˈhɛst/
Australian:/bɪˈhest/
Australian:/biˈhest/
rhymes with -ɛst
CMU ARPABET:B IH0 HH EH1 S T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request; now usually in the phrase at the behest of and at one's behest.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A vow; a promise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
Examples
c. 1440, Markaryte Paston, letter to John Paston The time is come that I should send it her, if I keep the behest that I have made.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To promise; vow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
an authoritative command or request
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: command, bid, bidding, dictation
History
Etymology
From Middle English biheste, from Old English behǣs (“vow, promise”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihaisi, from *bi- (“be-”) + *haisi (“command”), from Proto-Germanic *haisiz, from *haitaną (“to command”). Final -t by analogy with other similar words in -t. Related to Old English behātan (“to command, promise”), Middle Low German beheit, behēt (“a promise”). Compare also hest (“command”), hight.
Across languages
Translations
40 source translations are retained for this English entry.
