Be-tellan

根据古英语词典：

be-tellan

Substitute: I. to clear a person of a charge, exculpate, excuse :-- Nis nán man swá dyrstig on þám micclum dóme, þ æt hé durreððerne betellan, Hml. Th. ii. 570, 35. I a. generally reflexive, (1) absolute :-- Búton hé þider férde and hine betealde, Chr. 1094; P. 228, 36. Gewende hé tó Róme, þæt hé hine betealde, gif hé mihte. Þa betealde hé hine sweðe geáplíce, Hml. Th. i. 80, 9. Hí hí sylfe earhlíce betealdon, Hml. S. 23, 308. Se Hǽlend nolde hine betellan, ðeáh ðe hé unscyldig wǽre, Hml. Th. ii. 250, 11 : 420, 1. (2) to clear one's self from (æt), in the matter of (be) a charge, excuse one's self to (wið) a person :-- Godwine betealde hine wið Eádward be eallum ðám ðingan ðe him wæs on geléd, Chr. 1053; P. 183, 28. ꝥ hé móste hine betellan æt ǽlc þǽra þinga þe him man on léde, 1048 ; P. 175, 2. ꝥ hé mage wið Crist hine betellan, Hml. S. 27, 160. II. to prove one's self innocent, (1) with adj. :-- Hé hine betealde unsynnine, Hml. Th. ii. 226, 12. (2) with clause :-- Hé betealde hine wið Eádward, þet hé wæs unscyldig, Chr. 1052 ; P. 183, 7. III. to excuse a fault, plead excuse for :-- Hé ne mihte his mándǽda betellan, Hml. S. 9, 145. [N.E.D. be-tell.] be-tellan