A rare archaic verb meaning to cover with work, to work on thoroughly, or to embroider or decorate with needlework.
From 'be-' (intensive/causative prefix) + 'work' (from Old English 'weorc'). The prefix-verb construction 'bework' likely meant either to cover something entirely with work or to decorate it elaborately. This follows the pattern of similar archaic verbs like 'bejewel' and 'bedeck.'
Medieval and Renaissance texts sometimes use 'bework' to describe elaborate embroidery and decoration on clothing—imagine saying a gown was 'beworked with gold thread.' This shows how the 'be-' prefix let speakers quickly describe something as thoroughly or completely covered with a quality, a job now usually done by words like 'adorned' or 'embellished.'
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