What does bedew mean?
Bedew is a literary verb meaning to wet or moisten something with dew or with fine drops of liquid, and by extension to cover it with droplets as if dew had settled there. It is most often encountered in poetry and elevated prose, frequently in the passive form 'bedewed with': grass may be bedewed with morning moisture, flowers bedewed with rain, or — in a long-standing figurative use — cheeks and eyelashes bedewed with tears. The word carries a gentle, evocative connotation, lending scenes a freshness, delicacy, or pathos that plainer verbs like 'wet' or 'dampen' lack. Formed from the prefix 'be-' plus the ancient noun 'dew', it belongs to a small family of English verbs that build directly on natural phenomena. Though rare in modern conversation, it remains a useful word for writers seeking precise, atmospheric description of moisture on surfaces.
verbTo wet or moisten with drops of water, especially with dew; to cover with tiny droplets as if with dew.
- To wet or moisten with dew or fine drops of water.
- (Figurative) To cover or suffuse something as if with dew, especially with tears.
"By dawn the spiderwebs were bedewed with a thousand silver beads of moisture."
"The meadow lay bedewed at first light, every blade of grass glittering."
"Her lashes were bedewed with tears as she read the letter."
Bedew is one of the few English verbs built directly on 'dew' — and poets have used it for centuries to turn ordinary morning dampness into imagery of grief, blessing, and grace.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bedew
Bedew is formed from the Old English prefix 'be-' (meaning to cover or treat with) combined with 'dew', from Old English 'dēaw', which traces back through Proto-Germanic *dawwaz to the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰewh₂- meaning 'to flow' or 'to move quickly'. The verb arose in Middle English and has been used since at least the early modern period, especially in poetry. Its Germanic cousins include German 'Tau' (dew) and Dutch 'dauw', while English retains the shared root in 'dew', 'dewy', and 'dewdrop'.
Related word forms
How bedew is actually used
Bedew is literary and somewhat archaic in register; it appears chiefly in poetry and elevated prose rather than everyday speech. It is typically used in the passive or past-participle form ('bedewed with'), often followed by 'with' to name the moistening substance. The figurative use with tears is well established in poetic tradition.
Easily confused with bedew
Endue means to endow or invest someone with a quality or gift, whereas bedew means to wet something with droplets.