besotted
bih-SOT-id
/bɪˈsɒt.ɪd/
Completely infatuated or foolishly doting on someone or something.
Implies a state of romantic blindness or foolish intoxication where judgment is completely compromised.
The story behind the word. Formed from 'be-' (thoroughly) and 'sot' (a fool or drunkard). In the 1500s, to be besotted meant to be stupefied by alcohol. Over time, writers drew a parallel between alcohol intoxication and romantic infatuation.
Word relationships
- infatuated: Infatuated focuses on temporary irrational passion, whereas besotted highlights the foolish, intoxicated state of the person.
- smitten: Smitten implies being suddenly struck by love, while besotted emphasizes sustained foolish adoration.
- indifferent: Indifferent means having no interest or feeling whatsoever.
- disenchanted: Disenchanted describes losing fond illusions and seeing realities coldly.
Commonly confused with
- sotted: Sotted historically means habitual drunkenness, whereas besotted typically refers to romantic foolishness.
Word family
- besot (verb): To infatuate or make foolish.
Collocations
- besotted with
- utterly besotted
- hopelessly besotted
Idioms & expressions
- head over heels
- blinded by love
Example sentences
- "The young prince was so besotted with the mysterious traveler that he neglected his state duties." Literary narrative
- "Look at him—he is utterly besotted with his new baby daughter." Observational humor
Memory hook
A BESOTTED person acts like a foolish SOT in love. Drunk on love, acting foolish.
When not to use
Rarely used in formal academic prose except when analyzing literature.
Fun facts
- In Elizabethan drama, characters who were besotted were often comic relief figures who made silly mistakes.
Related words
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