Main Entry: ¹beg

Pronunciation: \ˈbeg\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): begged; beg·ging

Etymology: Middle English beggen

Date: 13th century

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>.