Beseech

Pronunciation

• enPR: bÄ­-sÄ“chʹ, IPA: /bɪˈsiːt͡ʃ/
• Rhymes: -iːtʃ

Alternative forms

• beseek

Origin

From Middle English besechen, bisechen, assibilated variants of Middle English beseken, from Old English *besēcan ("to seek or inquire about"), equivalent to - + seek. Cognate with Dutch bezoeken ("to attend, see"), German besuchen ("to visit, attend, see"), Swedish besöka ("to visit, go to see").

Full definition of beseech

Verb

1. To beg or implore.
• 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, London, Oxford University Press, 1973, § 25:after what manner, I beseech you, must the mind proceed in this operation?
• 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘Watches of the Night’, Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio 2005, p. 61:She besought him, for his Soul's sake to speak the truth.
• 1919, William Somerset Maugham, ,Panting a little in his haste, he told her how miserable he was; he besought her to have mercy on him; he promised, if she would forgive him, to do everything she wanted.

Related terms

• seek

Noun

1. (archaic) A request.
• 1839, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, George Darley, The works of Beaumont and Fletcher: Volume 1:Good madam, hear the suit that Edith urges, With such submiss beseeches; ...

Anagrams

• beeches