beg

One entry found for beg.

Main Entry: ¹beg
Pronunciation: 'beg
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): begged; beg·ging
Etymology: Middle English beggen
transitive verb
1 : to ask for as a charity
2 a : to ask earnestly for : ENTREAT b : to require as necessary or appropriate
3 : EVADE, SIDESTEP <begged the real problems>
intransitive verb
1 : to ask for alms
2 : to ask earnestly <begged for mercy>
- beg the question
1 : to pass over or ignore a question by assuming it to be established or settled
2 : to elicit a question logically as a reaction or response <the quarterback's injury begs the question of who will start in his place>
synonyms BEG, ENTREAT, BESEECH, IMPLORE, SUPPLICATE, ADJURE, IMPORTUNE mean to ask urgently. BEG suggests earnestness or insistence especially in asking for a favor <children begging to stay up late>. ENTREAT implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance <entreated him to change his mind>. BESEECH implies great eagerness or anxiety <I beseech you to have mercy>. IMPLORE adds to BESEECH a suggestion of greater urgency or anguished appeal <implored her not to leave him>. SUPPLICATE suggests a posture of humility <with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord>. ADJURE implies advising as well as pleading and suggests the invoking of something sacred <in God's name I adjure you to cease>. IMPORTUNE suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request <importuning viewers for contributions>.