beast

beast
noun Etymology: Middle English beste, from Anglo-French, from Latin bestia Date: 13th century 1. a. a four-footed mammal as distinguished from a human being, a lower vertebrate, and an invertebrate b. a lower animal as distinguished from a human being c. an animal as distinguished from a plant d. an animal under human control 2. a contemptible person 3. something formidably difficult to control or deal with

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Beast — (b[=e]st), n. [OE. best, beste, OF. beste, F. b[^e]te, fr. L. bestia.] 1. Any living creature; an animal; including man, insects, etc. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Any four footed animal, that may be used for labor, food, or sport; as, a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • beast — beast; beast·ie; beast·i·ly; beast·ings; beast·li·ly; beast·li·ness; beast·man; beast·ly; beast·lings; …   English syllables

  • Beast — ist der Name: einer Holzachterbahn, siehe The Beast (Kings Island). eines Gitarren Typs von B.C. Rich, siehe Beast (Gitarre). eines Computerspiels, siehe Shadow of the Beast. eines Buches von Ally Kennen, siehe Beast (Roman). zweier Fernsehserien …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • beast — [ bist ] noun count ** 1. ) MAINLY LITERARY an animal, especially a dangerous or strange one: a wild beast 2. ) a cruel or immoral person, especially one who behaves in a violent or sexual way a ) INFORMAL OLD FASHIONED used for speaking to… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • beast — [bi:st] n [Date: 1100 1200; : Old French; Origin: beste, from Latin bestia] 1.) written an animal, especially a large or dangerous one 2.) old fashioned someone who is cruel or unpleasant ▪ You beast! Let go! 3.) something of a particular type or …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • beast — (n.) c.1200, from O.Fr. beste animal, wild beast, figuratively fool, idiot (11c., Mod.Fr. bête), from V.L. *besta, from L. bestia beast, wild animal, of unknown origin. Used to translate Latin animal. Replaced O.E. deor (see DEER (Cf. deer)) as… …   Etymology dictionary

  • beast|ly — «BEEST lee», adjective, li|er, li|est, adverb. –adj. 1. like a beast; coarse, dirty, or brutal; vile: »The beastly behavior of the savages frightened their prisoners. 2. Informal. very bad or irritating; unpleasant; …   Useful english dictionary

  • beast — [bēst] n. [ME & OFr beste < L bestia < ? IE base * dheus > DEER] 1. Archaic any animal as distinguished from a human being 2. any large, four footed animal; sometimes, specif., a domesticated animal 3. qualities or impulses like an… …   English World dictionary

  • beast — index animal Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • beast — [n] large wild animal; brute barbarian, beastie*, creature, critter*, fiend, gargoyle, glutton, lower animal, monster, monstrosity, pig, quadruped, swine, varmint*; concept 394 …   New thesaurus

  • beast — ► NOUN 1) an animal, especially a large or dangerous mammal. 2) a very cruel or wicked person. ORIGIN Latin bestia …   English terms dictionary

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