What is behest?

"Behest" is a noun that refers to a command, directive, or urgent request made by someone in authority. It denotes an authoritative order or an earnest request, and it is often used in formal or literary contexts. The word can convey the sense that something is being done at the behest of someone else, implying that the action is being carried out because it was ordered or requested by that person. The term stems from Middle English, with roots in the Old English word "behæs," meaning vow or promise.