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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Besetting \Be*set"ting\, adjective Habitually attacking, harassing, or pressing upon or about; as, a besetting sin.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Beset \Be*set"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Beset}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Besetting}.] [AS. besettan (akin to OHG. bisazjan, G. besetzen, D. bezetten); pref. be- + settan to set. See {Set}.]
1. To set or stud (anything) with ornaments or prominent objects.
A robe of azure beset with drops of gold. --Spectator.
The garden is so beset with all manner of sweet shrubs that it perfumes the air. --Evelyn.
2. To hem in; to waylay; to surround; to besiege; to blockade. ''Beset with foes.'' --Milton.
Let thy troops beset our gates. --Addison.
3. To set upon on all sides; to perplex; to harass; -- said of dangers, obstacles, etc. ''Adam, sore beset, replied.'' --Milton. ''Beset with ills.'' --Addison. ''Incommodities which beset old age.'' --Burke.
4. To occupy; to employ; to use up. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Syn: To surround; inclose; environ; hem in; besiege; encircle; encompass; embarrass; urge; press.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
beset
verb
1: annoy continually or chronically; "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his female co-workers" [syn: {harass}, {hassle}, {harry}, {chivy}, {chivvy}, {chevy}, {chevvy}, {plague}, {molest}, {provoke}]
2: assail or attack on all sides: "The zebra was beset by leopards" [syn: {set upon}]
3: decorate or cover lavishly with gems [syn: {encrust}, {incrust}] [also: {besetting}]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
besetting See {beset}
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
37 Moby Thesaurus words for "besetting": annoying, average, backbreaking, common, crushing, current, dominant, epidemic, grueling, heavy, hefty, irksome, normal, onerous, oppressive, ordinary, painful, pandemic, plaguey, popular, predominant, predominating, prevailing, prevalent, rampant, regnant, reigning, rife, routine, ruling, running, standard, stereotyped, troublesome, trying, usual, vexatious
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