be- (as an intensifier) + Old English stōw ‘place’

confer or present (an honor, right, or gift):

｟かたく｠ 【目下の者に】〈価値のあるもの〉を授ける, 与える «on, upon»

e.g. the office was bestowed on him by the chief of state

e.g. thank you for this honor that you have bestowed upon me

e.g. figurative : she bestowed her nicest smile on Jim.

bestowal | bəˈstōəl | noun

Middle English (in the sense ‘use for, devote to’): from be- (as an intensifier) + Old English stōw ‘place’.