beg
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /bɛɡ/
ipa: /beɪɡ/
rhymes: -ɛɡ
Forms: form: begs
form: begging
form: begged
form: begged
Etymology: Inherited from Middle English beggen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English *becgian, *bedcian, syncopated forms of bedecian (“to beg”), itself of obscure origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *bedukōn, a frequentative verb derived from Proto-West Germanic *bedu (“plea, petition, prayer”, whence English bead). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *bedagō (“petitioner, requester, beggar”), an agent noun from the same source. Compare North Frisian bēdagi (“to pray”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (bidagwa, “beggar”). All ultimately from the root of English bid, which see for more. An alternative theory considers the verb a backformation from beggar and derives the latter from Old French begart (“kind of lay brother”).
Senses: examples: text: He begged on the street corner from passers-by.
glosses: To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.
examples: text: I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to cause offence.
text: He begged her to go to the prom with him.
text: you do beg your good will in this case.
ref: c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
text: [Joseph] begged the body of Jesus.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 27:58:
text: But 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' [...]
ref: [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
synonyms: supplicate
glosses: To plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreat.
examples: text: The way you keep eating raw meat, you're just begging to get tapeworms.
glosses: To unwillingly provoke a negative, often violent, reaction.
examples: text: A captivating novel that just begs for a movie adaptation
text: The colors in this cell are as dull as its architects must have been. An endless expanse of drab-green textured walls, contrasting with the gray concrete floor. It begs redecoration.
ref: 1985 April 13, Philip Brasfield, “Echoes Inside of What's Outside”, in Gay Community News, page 4:
glosses: To obviously lack or be in need of something.
glosses: In the phrase beg the question: to assume.
antonyms: set aside
glosses: In the phrase beg the question: to raise (a question).
examples: text: Else some will beg thee, in the court of wards.
ref: a. 1612, John Harington, Epigrams:
topics: law
glosses: To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for.
Synonyms: beseech
entreat
sue
Derived terms: begathon
beg button
beg for mercy
beg for one's life
beg for someone's life
beggable
beg off
begpacker
begpacking
beg parding
beg pardon
beg someone's pardon
beg the question
beg to differ
begware
beg yours
bleg
go begging
good voice to beg bacon
I beg your pardon
outbeg
sit-up-and-beg
soft begging
unbegged