behest
pronunciation
How to pronounce behest in British English:
UK [bɪˈhest]
How to pronounce behest in American English:
US [bɪˈhɛst]
-
- Noun:
- an authoritative command or request
Word Origin
- behest (n.)
- Old English behæs "a vow," perhaps from behatan "to promise" (from be- + hatan "command, call;" see cite) and confused with obsolete hest "command," which may account for the parasitic -t as well as the Middle English shift in meaning to "command, injunction" (late 12c.).
Example
- 1. In state-controlled companies , senior managers are rotated at the behest of government .
- 2. Is it acting on the behest of the chinese government ?
- 3. " The denuclearisation of the peninsula was the behest of president kim il-sung , " it quoted kim as saying about his father .
- 4. Developing nuclear plants only at the behest of government will also make it harder for the industry to improve its safety culture .
- 5. Formerly in cahoots with the militants , who fought india at its behest , the army is less keen on them these days .