behest

Etymology

From Middle English biheste, from Old English behǣs (“vow, promise”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihaisi, from *bi- (“be-”) + *haisi (“command”), from Proto-Germanic *haisiz, from *haitaną (“to command”). Final -t by analogy with other similar words in -t. Related to Old English behātan (“to command, promise”), Middle Low German beheit, behēt (“a promise”). Compare also hest (“command”), hight.

noun

1. A command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request; now usually in the phrase at the behest of.
   I have spells for the north, I have charms for the west, / And the south and the east must obey my behest. 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 302
   Paul did not dare pronounce, let matters rest, / His master having given him no behest. 1951, Geoffrey Chaucer, translated by Nevill Coghill, The Canterbury Tales: Translated into Modern English (Penguin Classics), Penguin Books, published 1977, page 278
   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. 1961 May, “Talking of Trains: Stourton and Stafford approved”, in Trains Illustrated, page 260
   And young Mr. Fleetwood Vibe was here at the behest of his father, Wall Street eminence Scarsdale Vibe, who was effectively bankrolling the Expedition. 2007, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day
   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. 15 Oct 2009, “What a waste”, in The Economist
   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. 24 Mar 2011, Owen Gibson, The Guardian
2. (obsolete) A vow; a promise.
   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.

verb

1. (obsolete) To promise; vow.