The word "bewest" is a rarely used variant of "bequest," which means a gift or inheritance passed down through a will. The phonetic transcription of this word is [bɪˈkwɛst]. The "be-" prefix indicates that something is given, while the "-quest" suffix implies a request. The spelling "bewest" can be seen as an archaic spelling variation or a regional dialect. It is advisable to use the more common spelling "bequest" in everyday writing and communication to avoid confusion.