bemoor

Bemoor is a rarely used English verb meaning to cause to become bogged down or covered in mud; to mire. It is chiefly found in archaic, dialectal, or literary contexts and is often treated as a synonym of bemire or mire.

Etymology and attestation: The exact origin of bemoor is uncertain. It is often regarded as a dialectal or historical variant formed with be- plus moor or mire. attestations occur in regional and Early Modern texts, but the form has largely fallen out of use in modern standard English. Modern dictionaries typically label bemoor as obsolete or dialectal.

Usage: In historical or regional writing, bemoor describes physical obstruction caused by mud or soft ground, or, less commonly, a figurative hindrance. Because the term is infrequent, authors more commonly prefer bemire, mire, or bog down. When it does appear, it can take standard inflections consistent with English verb forms (for example, bemooring or bemoored in appropriate dialect spellings).

See also: bemire, mire, bog down, mud, marsh.