bask

bask
\ \ [14] When English first acquired this word, probably from Old Norse bathask, it was in the sense ‘wallow in blood’: ‘seeing his brother basking in his blood’, John Lydgate, Chronicles of Troy 1430. It was not until the 17th century that the modern sense ‘lie in pleasant warmth’ became established: ‘a fool, who laid him down, and basked him in the sun’, Shakespeare, As You Like It 1600. The word retains connotations of its earliest literal sense ‘bathe’ – Old Norse bathask was the reflexive form of bathabathe’.
\ \ Cf.BATHE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • bask — [ba:sk US bæsk] v [Date: 1300 1400; : Old Norse; Origin: bathask, from batha [i] to take a bath ] 1.) to enjoy sitting or lying in the heat of the sun or a fire bask in ▪ Lizards were basking in the morning sun. 2.) if a place basks in the sun,… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bask — [bask, bäsk] vi. [ME basken, to wallow (in blood): found only in Gower & Lydgate; < ?: modern use apparently due to Shakespeare s misunderstanding of Lydgate] 1. to warm oneself pleasantly, as in the sunlight 2. to enjoy a warm or pleasant… …   English World dictionary

  • Başkənd — may refer to: *Artsvashen, Armenia *Başkənd, Kalbajar, Azerbaijan *Başkənd, Nakhchivan, Azerbaijanee also*Bashkend …   Wikipedia

  • bask — [ bæsk ] verb intransitive 1. ) to relax and enjoy yourself by lying in the sun: A group of gray seals were basking on a rock. a ) if a place is basking in SUNSHINE or high temperatures, the weather is hot and sunny 2. ) bask in to enjoy people s …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • bask — sb., et, bask, ene; et kraftigt bask med vingerne …   Dansk ordbog

  • bask´er — bask «bask, bahsk», intransitive verb. 1. to warm oneself pleasantly: »The cat basks in the warm sunshine. 2. Figurative. to feel great pleasure: »He basked in the love of his family. SYNONYM(S): luxuriate. –v.t. to warm pleasantly: »We basked… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bask — Bask, v. t. To warm by continued exposure to heat; to warm with genial heat. [1913 Webster] Basks at the fire his hairy strength. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bask — (b[.a]sk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Basked} (b[.a]skt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Basking}.] [OScand. ba[eth]ask to bathe one s self, or perh. bakask to bake one s self, sk being reflexive. See {Bath}, n., {Bake}, v. t.] To lie in warmth; to be exposed to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bask — /bask, bahsk/, v.i. 1. to lie in or be exposed to a pleasant warmth: to bask in the sunshine. 2. to enjoy a pleasant situation: He basked in royal favor. v.t. 3. Obs. to expose to warmth or heat. [1350 1400; ME < ON bathask to bathe oneself,… …   Universalium

  • bask — /bask / (say bahsk) verb (i) 1. to lie in or be exposed to a pleasant warmth: to bask in the sunshine. 2. to enjoy a pleasant situation: she basked in royal favour. {Middle English baske(n), from Old Norse baðask bathe} …  

  • bask — [v1] lie in sunlight laze, loll, lounge, relax, sun, sunbathe, swim in, toast oneself*, warm oneself; concepts 162,210 Ant. cover, hide bask [v2] lie in glory delight in, derive pleasure, enjoy, indulge, luxuriate, relish, revel, rollick, savor,… …   New thesaurus

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