Meaning of Behest | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request; now usually in the phrase at the behest of and at one's behest.
2. A vow; a promise.
   obsolete

Equivalents

Examples

“Moſt great and puiſant Monarke of the earth, Your Baſſoe wil accompliſh your beheſt: […]”

“to do his master's high behest”

“I have spells for the north, I have charms for the west, / And the south and the east must obey my behest.”

“Paul did not dare pronounce, let matters rest, / His master having given him no behest.”

“The London Midland Region has announced receipt of authority from the Ministry of Transport to resume the reconstruction of Stafford station and layout, interrupted at the Minister's behest; contracts have now been placed for the erection of the new station buildings and the yardmaster's office.”

“Sophie felt she should sit on too though she knew it to be an irrational fantasy of hers that these little services were held at his behest.”

“And young Mr. Fleetwood Vibe was here at the behest of his father, Wall Street eminence Scarsdale Vibe, who was effectively bankrolling the Expedition.”

“the House of Representatives will try to water down even this feeble effort at the behest of the unions whose members enjoy some of the most lavish policies.”

“The Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is to meet with the BBC director general, Mark Thompson, at the behest of the Premier League in a bid to resolve their long-running feud.”

“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.”

CEFR level