Dutch

Verb

besta

1. first-person singular present indicative of bestaan
2. (archaic) singular present subjunctive of bestaan
3. imperative of bestaan

Anagrams

• baste, batse

Galician

Etymology

From Old Portuguese besta, probably a borrowing from Latin bēstia ‎(“beast”).

Noun

besta f ‎(plural bestas)

1. beast (animal)
2. mare
3. (figuratively) brute

Synonyms

• (mare): egua
• (brute): bruto

Old Portuguese

Alternative forms

• bestia
• bescha

Etymology

Probably a borrowing from Latin bēstia ‎(“beast”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbes̺.ta/

Noun

besta f

1. beast (a non-human animal, especially large vertebrate quadrupeds)
   • 13th century, attributed to Alfonso X of Castile, Cantigas de Santa Maria, E codex, cantiga 124 (facsimile):

     aue nen beſta dele non comiu per ren.

     Neither bird nor beast would eat him for anything.

2. beast of burden, donkey
   • 13th century, attributed to Alfonso X of Castile, Cantigas de Santa Maria, E codex, cantiga 147 (facsimile):

     a beſtia de balaam

     Balaam's donkey

Synonyms

• (beast): animalia, animalla

Descendants

• Galician: besta
• Portuguese: besta

Portuguese

Etymology 1

From Old Portuguese besta, probably a borrowing from Latin bēstia ‎(“beast”). Doublet of bicha.

Alternative forms

• bêsta (obsolete, noun only)

Pronunciation

Noun:

• (Portugal, Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈbeʃ.tɐ/

Verb:

• (Portugal, Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛʃ.tɐ/

Noun

besta f (plural bestas)

1. beast (any large animal)
2. beast of burden (animal used to transport cargo)
3. ass (any of several species of horse-like animals)
4. (pejorative) fool; idiot (stupid person)
5. (euphemistic) the Beast; Satan

Synonyms

• (beast): animal, bicho, vertebrado, quadrúpede, fera
• (beast of burden): besta-de-carga
• (ass): asno, burro, jumento
• (fool): tongo, burro, jumento, estúpido, idiota, bestalhão, paspalhão, tonto, abestado
• (Satan): Satã, demônio, Diabo, Satanás

Derived terms

Related terms

Verb

besta

1. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present indicative of bestar
2. second-person singular (tu, sometimes used with você) affirmative imperative of bestar

Etymology 2

From Old Portuguese baesta ‎(“crossbow”), from Latin ballista, from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα ‎(ballístra). Not related to above meaning of Satan (folk etymology).

Pronunciation

• (Portugal, Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛʃ.tɐ/
• (Brazil, nonstandard) IPA^(key): /ˈbes.tɐ/

Noun

besta f (plural bestas)

1. crossbow (weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock)

Related terms

• balestra
• balista
• besteiro

See also

• arco, seta