Covered or stained with a greasy or sticky substance; soiled or dirtied.
From Middle English besmeren, combining the prefix be- (meaning 'thoroughly') with smear (from Old English smeran meaning 'to anoint or daub'). The word evolved from literal coating with grease to metaphorical dirtying of reputation.
This word shows how English verbs with the 'be-' prefix intensify meaning—'smear' alone means to coat carelessly, but 'besmear' means to do it thoroughly and messily. This pattern, found in archaic words like 'befuddle' and 'bedazzle,' reveals how Middle English speakers doubled down on verbs to express completeness.
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