/ˈbiːvə/, /ˈbivɚ/
OriginFrom Middle English bever, from Anglo-Norman bever (modern French boire), from Latin bibō.
- countable, obsolete, uncountableA drink.
“Bid my subsiser carry my hackney to the buttery, and give him his bever; it is a civil and sober beast, and will drink moderately.”
- archaic, countable, uncountableA snack or light refreshment between meals.
“It seemeth that wee daily shorten the use of this, and that in our houses (as I have seene in mine infancie) breakfasts, nunchions, and beavers [translating collations] should be more frequent and oft”
“Thirty meals a day and ten bevers.”
“Very softly I boiled water, made a sandwich from the remains of the luncheon roast chicken, scalded the Twining creature. Then I softly carried my bever to the study on a tray[…].”
- countable, obsolete, uncountableA time for drinking.
- countable, obsolete, uncountableA mixture of cider and water.
- obsoleteTo take a light repast between meals.
Formsbevers(plural) · bevers(present, singular, third-person) · bevering(participle, present) · bevered(participle, past) · bevered(past) · Bevers(plural)