bespeak
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
bespeak
- /bɪˈspiːk/
Rhymes with -iːk
Where it comes from
From Middle English bespeken, bispeken, from Old English *bespecan, besprecan (“to speak about, speak against, accuse of, claim at law, complain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bisprekan (“to discuss, blame”), from Proto-Germanic *bisprekaną (“to speak about, discuss, blame”), equivalent to be- + speak. Cognate with Scots bespeke (“to beseech, speak or negotiate with”), Saterland Frisian bispreke (“to discuss”), West Frisian besprekke (“to discuss”), Dutch bespreken (“to discuss, review, debate”), German besprechen (“to discuss, review, talk about”).
verb bespeaks · bespeaking · bespoke · bespake · bespoken
- To speak about; tell of; relate; discuss. [They] bespoke dangers […] in order to scare the allies.
- To speak for beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for; order, commission, reserve or arrange for something to be made in advance. '[…] I am come here to bespeak Fanny a seal […]'
- To stipulate, solicit, ask for, or request, as in a favour. to bespeak a calm hearing
- To forbode; foretell.
- To speak to; address. Then ſtaring on her with a ghaſtly Look, / And hollow Voice, he thus the Queen beſpoke.
- To betoken; show; indicate; depict; foretell; suggest; allude to. This act bespeaks his kindness.
- To speak up or out; exclaim; speak.
noun bespeaks
- A request for a specific performance; a benefit performance, by a patron. "By the bye, I've been thinking of bringing out that piece of yours on her bespeak night." "When?" asked Nicholas. "The night of her bespeak. Her benefit night. When her friends and patrons bespeak the play." "Oh! I understand," replied Nicholas.
