Pronunciation: [bɪɡˈɪld] (IPA) 
"Begild" is a verb that means to cover with gold. The spelling of this word is pronounced as /bɪˈɡɪld/, with the "i" in "begild" pronounced as "ih" and the "e" pronounced as "eh". It also starts with a "b" sound, followed by a short "i" sound, a hard "g" sound, the vowel sound "ih", and ends with a soft "d" sound. This spelling is derived from the Middle English word "begilden", and has remained largely unchanged since then.
Begild is a verb that means to cover or adorn with a thin layer of gold or a substance resembling gold. It originates from the Middle English word "bigilden," which can be further traced back to the Old English word "gyldan." The prefix "be-" here denotes the action of completely covering or making something full of gold.
When an object is begilded, it is typically coated with a thin layer of gold leaf or gold paint, giving it a lustrous, golden appearance. Historically, the process of begilding has been widely used in various artistic and decorative applications, such as gilding statues, frames, furniture, or ornamental objects.
Begilding can serve both aesthetic and symbolic purposes. From a purely aesthetic point of view, it adds a touch of elegance, richness, and opulence to the gilded object. Symbolically, begilding has often been associated with notions of wealth, luxury, power, and prestige.
In a broader sense, the term "begild" is not limited to gold alone. It can also refer to the act of covering or adorning something with a substance that resembles gold, such as gold-colored paint or metallic compounds. This broader definition allows for a wider range of materials and techniques to be used in the process of begilding, while still aiming to achieve the appearance of a golden sheen.
The word "begild" is derived from the Old English term "begieldan", which is a combination of the prefix "be-" (meaning "to cause to be") and the word "gieldan" (meaning "to gild" or "to cover with gold"). The term "gieldan" itself can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*gelthaną", which shares a common origin with the Old Norse word "gildra" (to gild) and the Old High German word "gelda" (to pay). Ultimately, all these words can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰel- (to shine or be yellow).
