Middle English word beheten comes from English besmirch, Old English hatan
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| besmirch | English (eng) | (transitive) To tarnish something, especially someone's reputation; to debase.. (transitive, literary) To make dirty; to soil. |
| hatan | Old English (ang) | (intransitive) to be called or named. To call or name. To order, command. |
| hight | English (eng) | (archaic) Called, named. (archaic, dialectal) To command; to enjoin.. (archaic, intransitive) To be called or named.. (archaic, transitive) To call, name. |
| behātan | Old English (ang) | |
| behoten | Middle English (enm) |