beseech
Etymology

From Middle English besechen, bisechen, prefixed form of Old English sēċan.

Pronunciation
  • enPR: bĭ-sēchʹ, IPA: /bɪˈsiːt͡ʃ/
Verb

beseech (beseeches, present participle beseeching; simple past and past participle beseeched) (transitive)

  1. To beg or implore something of (a person).
    • 1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “The Introites, Collectes, Epistles, and Gospels, to be Used at the Celebracion of the Lordes Supper & Holye Communion, throughe the Yeare: With Proper Psalmes, and Lessons for Diuers Feastes and Dayes. [The Accencion Daie. Proper Psalms and Lessons.]”, in The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC ↗, folio lxviii, recto ↗:
      [W]e beſche thee, leaue vs not comfortles, but ſende to vs thine holy ghoſt to comfort vs, and exalte vs vnto thy ſame place, whither our ſauiour Chriſte is gone before: […]
    • 1748, [David Hume], Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC ↗:
      after what manner, I beseech you, must the mind proceed in this operation?
    • 1887 March 25, Rudyard Kipling, “Watches of the Night”, in Plain Tales from the Hills, Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and Co.; London: W. Thacker & Co., published 1888, →OCLC ↗:
      She besought him, for his Soul's sake to speak the truth.
    • 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter XXXI, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC ↗:
      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.
  2. To beg or request for (something).
Related terms Translations Noun

beseech (plural beseeches)

  1. (archaic) A request.



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