To dash or strike thoroughly; to break into pieces with force.
From the intensive prefix 'be-' combined with 'dash' (from Middle English 'dashen,' possibly from Old Norse origin), creating a verb meaning to break or strike completely.
The 'be-' prefix was so popular in Middle English that writers would use it with almost any verb—'bedash,' 'bebatter,' 'bebeat'—to express forceful, complete action, which explains why many of these words feel exotic to modern ears.
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