Word of the Day : January 9, 2019

behest \bih-HEST\ noun

Definition

1 : an authoritative order : command

2 : an urgent prompting

Did You Know?

Today's word first appeared in Old English and was formed from the prefix be- and the verb hātan ("to command" or "to promise"). While behest was originally used only in the sense of "promise," it acquired the additional sense of "command" among speakers of Middle English. Among contemporary English speakers, behest is no longer used in the sense of "promise" but rather denotes an authoritative or urgent request or command. Old English hātan also gave English the now-archaic words hest (meaning "command") and hight ("being called or named").

Aired January 9, 2019

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