Beg
Pronunciation
- IPA: /bɛɡ/, US also IPA: /beɪg/
- Rhymes: -ɛɡ
Origin 1
From Middle English beggen, assimilation from Old English *bedican, syncopated variant of bedecian ("to beg"). Related to Gothic ðŒ±ðŒ¹ðŒ³ðŒ°ðŒ²ð…ðŒ° (bidagwa, "beggar"), Old English biddan ("to ask"). More at bid, bead.
Full definition of beg
Verb
- (intransitive) to request the help of someone, often in the form of moneyHe begged on the street corner from passers-by.
- (transitive) to plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreatI beg your pardon. I didn't mean to cause offence.He begged her to go to the prom with him.
- ShakespeareI do beg your good will in this case.
- Bible, Matthew xxvii. 58Joseph begged the body of Jesus.
- 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 5But that same day came Sam Tewkesbury to the Why Not? about nightfall, and begged a glass of rum, being, as he said, 'all of a shake'...
- (transitive) to assume, in the phrase beg the question
- (proscribed) to raise a question, in the phrase beg the question
- (legal, obsolete) To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for.
- HarringtonElse some will beg thee, in the court of wards.
Usage notes
This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See
Antonyms
- (raise a question) set aside
Derived terms
Origin 2
Turkish beg.
Origin 3
{{abbreviation-old|en}}
- (knitting) beginning
- 2005, DRG Dynamic Resource, House of White Birches, Big Book of Knit Hats & Scarves for Everyone (page 34)Knit with MC until work measures 3 inches from beg.