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

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

  1. to beg or implore (a person)
    • 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, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 31
      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 request or beg for
    • 1990, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (translators), Fyodor Dostoevsky (author), The Brothers Karamazov, San Francisco, North Point Press, ISBN 0-86547-422-2, page 657:
      […] the tickets had all been given out, begged, besought long ago.
Related terms Translations Noun

beseech (plural beseeches)

  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; [...]



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