Bestridden: meaning, definitions and examples

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bestridden

 

[ bɪsˈtrɪd.ən ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

past participle

Bestridden is the past participle of the verb 'bestride', which means to stand or sit astride something, typically a horse. This term is often used in literature and poetry to convey an image of someone confidently mounting or dominating something. It can also imply a sense of authority or control over a situation or place. The use of 'bestridden' suggests a completed action of having mounted or taken a position over something.

Synonyms

dominated, mounted, straddled

Examples of usage

  • He had bestridden the horse with grace.
  • The king was said to have bestridden the land.
  • She had bestridden her fears and moved forward.

Translations

Translations of the word "bestridden" in other languages:

🇵🇹 montado

🇮🇳 सवार किया हुआ

🇩🇪 bestiegen

🇮🇩 naik

🇺🇦 осідланий

🇵🇱 dosiadany

🇯🇵 乗っている

🇫🇷 monté

🇪🇸 montado

🇹🇷 biner

🇰🇷 타고 있는

🇸🇦 ركب

🇨🇿 osedlaný

🇸🇰 osedlaný

🇨🇳 骑乘的

🇸🇮 jahani

🇮🇸 ríðandi

🇰🇿 мінген

🇬🇪 ჯოხი

🇦🇿 sürülmüş

🇲🇽 montado

Etymology

The word 'bestridden' comes from the Old English 'bestridan', which is composed of the prefix 'be-' meaning around or about, and 'stridan' meaning to stride or to step. The term has been used since the early medieval period and is deeply rooted in the imagery of both the physical act of riding and the metaphorical sense of overcoming obstacles. Over centuries, 'bestride' has found its application in various literary works, often to depict power dynamics between characters or to emphasize the act of taking control of a situation. The past participle 'bestridden' emerged as a natural linguistic evolution, encapsulating the idea that one has already taken such a position or power. The romantic and sometimes heroic connotations of the term have kept it alive in modern literature, although it is less commonly used in everyday language.