bestow

Etymology

PIE word *h₁epi The verb is derived from Middle English bestowen, bistouen, bistowen (“to give, bestow; to apply (something to something else); to arrange or have control over (something); to place (someone) in a position; to use (for some purpose); (reflexive) to find (oneself) a place to live or shelter”) [and other forms], from bi- (prefix forming verbs, often with a completive, figurative, or intensive meaning) + stouen, stowen (“to pack (cargo) in a ship, stow; to place (someone) in a certain position; to provide quarters for, lodge; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to place; to stand (up)”)). The English word is analysable as be- (intensifying prefix forming verbs) + stow (“to put (something) away in a suitable place; etc.”). The noun is derived from the verb.

verb

1. To apply or make use of (someone or something); to employ, to use.
   Richmond, thy purling ſtreams and pleaſing ſhades, / Might claim the chorus of Aonian maids; / VVhere e’en Apollo might his hours beſtovv, / By turns employ his lyre, by turns his bovv, / VVhere all the pleaſures dvvell, vvhich poets feign / On fair Arcadia’s fields or Tempe’s plain. 1734 September, “From Richmond Park. A Poem.”, in Sylvanus Urban [pseudonym; Edward Cave], editor, The Gentleman’s Magazine: Or, Monthly Intelligencer, London: […] F. Jefferies,[…], →OCLC, page 505, column 1
   1. (specifically, obsolete) To apply (money) for some purpose; to expend, to spend.
2. To impart (something) gratuitously; to present (something) to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; to confer, to give.
   Medals were bestowed on the winning team.
   Here 'tis vvorth vvhile to beſtovv a fevv more Reflections upon that extraordinary Piece of barbarous Cruelty againſt their Country under the Character of Rufinus. From the London Journal, 9 October 1734, no. 802. 1734 November, “[Weekly Essays in November, 1734]”, in Sylvanus Urban [pseudonym; Edward Cave], editor, The Gentleman’s Magazine: Or, Monthly Intelligencer, volume IV, London: […] F. Jefferies,[…], →OCLC, page 598, column 1
   CERN bestows slush fund on the LHC. Take all pennies from the CERN space. 28 September 2008, Illiad [pseudonym; J. D. Frazer], “The Large Hadron Collider Game: Or ‘Why Science is Hard and Getting People to Fund It is Harder’”, in User Friendly (webcomic), archived from the original on 2022-02-25
3. (archaic)
   1. To place or put (someone or something) somewhere or in a certain situation; to dispose of.
   2. To deposit (something) for safekeeping; to lay up (something) in store; to stow.
   3. (also reflexive) To provide (someone or oneself) with accommodation; to find quarters for (someone or oneself); to lodge, to quarter.
4. (obsolete)
   1. (reflexive) To behave or conduct (oneself); to acquit.
   2. (also reflexive) To give (someone or oneself) in marriage.

noun

1. (obsolete, rare) An act of presenting a thing to someone or something, especially as a gift or an honour; a bestowal.