Definition
To provide with a husband or to marry off (a woman) to a husband.
Etymology
From Middle English 'be-' (prefix meaning 'to make' or 'to cause') + 'husband'. The 'be-' prefix transforms the noun into a verb meaning to furnish with or provide the role of husband.
Kelly Says
This word perfectly captures how English used to be much more flexible with prefixes—'be-' could turn almost any noun into a verb. Shakespeare used 'be-' verbs constantly, but most have disappeared except in archaic texts like historical fiction.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ባለቤት ሆነው
ba-le-bet ho-new
ARالعربية
يكون زوجًا
ya-koon zaw-jan
BNবাংলা
স্বামী হওয়া
shwam-ee how-wa
CACatalà
esdevenir marit
es-de-ven-ir ma-rit
CSČeština
stát se mužem
stat' se moo-zem
DADansk
blive mand
bli-ve mand
DEDeutsch
Ehemann sein
ay-hah-man sein
ELΕλληνικά
γίνει σύζυγος
yee-nee soo-zee-gos
ESEspañol
ser esposo
ser es-POH-so
FAفارسی
شوهر شدن
sho-her sho-dan
FISuomi
tulla mieheksi
tu-lla mee-heh-ksi
FRFrançais
être mari
et-re ma-ree
GUGU
પતિ બનવું
pa-tee ban-vu
HAHA
a zama mace
a za-ma ma-ce
HEעברית
להיות בעלה
le-hayot ba-aleh
HIहिन्दी
पति बनना
pa-tee ban-na
HUMagyar
férj lenni
ferj len-nee
IDBahasa Indonesia
menjadi suami
me-njadi su-ami
ITItaliano
essere marito
es-ser-e ma-ree-toh
JA日本語
夫になる
おっとになる (otto ni naru)
KMKM
ក្លាយជា ប្រុស
klay-chea-pruhs
KO한국어
남편이 되다
nam-pyeon-i doe-da
MRMR
पती होणे
pa-tee ho-ne
MSBahasa Melayu
menjadi suami
me-njadi su-ami
MYမြန်မာ
မိ σύ ဖြစ်
mi-si-phyit
NLNederlands
man worden
man wor-den
PAPA
ਪਤੀ ਬਣਾ
pa-tee ban-na
PLPolski
zostać mężem
zostać m-e-zhem
PTPortuguês
ser marido
ser ma-ree-doo
RORomână
a deveni soț
a de-ven-i so-ts
RUРусский
стать мужем
stat' mu-zhem
SVSvenska
bli make
bli mah-keh
SWKiswahili
kuwa mume
koo-wa moo-meh
TAதமிழ்
மணமகனாக இரு
ma-na-ma-ka-na iru
TEతెలుగు
భర్తగా మార
bhar-thaga maara
THไทย
เป็นสามี
pen sa-mee
TLTL
maging asawa
ma-ging a-sa-wa
TRTürkçe
evlenmek
ev-len-mek
UKУкраїнська
стати чоловіком
staty cho-lo-vykom
URاردو
شوہر بننا
sho-har ban-na
VITiếng Việt
trở thành chồng
tro thanh chong
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Archaic verb meaning 'to provide with a husband' or 'to marry off.' Reflects historical contexts where women's agency was mediated through marriage, treating husband-provision as a transaction rather than partnership.
Inclusive Usage
This word is obsolete and should remain so. Modern contexts should use 'marry,' 'partner with,' or 'commit to a relationship'—language that centers mutual choice.
Inclusive Alternatives
["marry","partner with","enter into relationship with"]
Empowerment Note
Historical erasure: this word's very grammar (passive woman as object of 'husbanding') denied women's autonomous decision-making in partnerships.