Plural of bete, referring to animals or beasts, particularly used in French or archaic English contexts.
From Old French 'beste,' derived from Latin 'bestia' (animal, beast). The word entered English through Norman French and appears in medieval literature.
The word 'bestia' in Latin originally meant any wild animal, but Europeans later used it dismissively for people they considered uncivilized, showing how animal-related language has historically been weaponized in prejudiced ways.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.