noun
- a command or directive.
- an earnest or strongly worded request.
noun
- an authoritative order or earnest request
Old English behæs “a vow,” perhaps from behatan “to promise” (from be- + hatan “command, call;” see cite) and confused with obsolete hest “command,” which may account for the parasitic -t as well as the Middle English shift in meaning to “command, injunction” (late 12c.).