BEHEST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does behest mean? 

• BEHEST (noun)
  The noun BEHEST has 1 sense:

1. an authoritative command or request

  Familiarity information: BEHEST used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BEHEST (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An authoritative command or request

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("behest" is a kind of...):

bid; bidding; command; dictation (an authoritative direction or instruction to do something)

 Context examples 

Then, signior, I lay on you my sovereign behest to furbish up your lungs and other vocal organs, as they will be wanted on my royal service.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

While he waved his hand and muttered that he had done nothing at all, he was obeying her behest by trying to get into a chair.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Did I not, even at the time when I was proud to obey her behest, feel that it was surely a poor love which could drive a lover to his death or the danger of it?

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I did his behest.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)