Bespeak

Bespeak
Bespeak Be*speak", v. t. [imp. {Bespoke}, {Bespake} (Archaic); p. p. {Bespoke}, {Bespoken}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bespeaking}.] [OE. bispeken, AS. besprecan, to speak to, accuse; pref. be- + sprecan to speak. See {Speak}.] 1. To speak or arrange for beforehand; to order or engage against a future time; as, to bespeak goods, a right, or a favor. [1913 Webster]

Concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favor. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

2. To show beforehand; to foretell; to indicate. [1913 Webster]

[They] bespoke dangers . . . in order to scare the allies. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

3. To betoken; to show; to indicate by external marks or appearances. [1913 Webster]

When the abbot of St. Martin was born, he had so little the figure of a man that it bespoke him rather a monster. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

4. To speak to; to address. [Poetic] [1913 Webster]

He thus the queen bespoke. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bespeak — Be*speak , n. A bespeaking. Among actors, a benefit (when a particular play is bespoken.) The night of her bespeak. Dickens. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bespeak — Be*speak , v. i. To speak. [Obs.] Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bespeak — I verb argue, attest, call, connote, convey, denote, express, imply, import, indicate, mean, purport, signify, speak of, suggest, tell of, testify II index call (appeal to), denote, evince, indicate …   Law dictionary

  • bespeak — (v.) O.E. besprecan speak about, speak against, complain, from BE (Cf. be ) + SPRECAN (Cf. sprecan) to speak (see SPEAK (Cf. speak)). A common Germanic compound (Cf. O.S. bisprecan, Du. bespreken, O.H.G. bisprehhan, Ger. besprechen …   Etymology dictionary

  • bespeak — betoken, attest, *indicate, argue, prove Analogous words: manifest, evidence, *show, evince, demonstrate: imply, hint, *suggest …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • bespeak — ► VERB (past bespoke; past part. bespoken) 1) be evidence of. 2) order or reserve in advance …   English terms dictionary

  • bespeak — [bē spēk′, bispēk′] vt. bespoke, bespoken or bespoke, bespeaking [ME bispeken < OE besprecan: see BE & SPEAK] 1. to speak for in advance; engage beforehand; reserve [that room is bespoken] 2. to be indicative of; show [a mansion that bespeaks… …   English World dictionary

  • bespeak — /bəˈspik/ (say buh speek), /bi / (say bee ) verb (t) (bespoke or, Archaic, bespake, bespoken, bespeaking) 1. to ask for in advance; stipulate: to bespeak a calm hearing; to bespeak the reader s patience. 2. to reserve beforehand; engage in… …  

  • bespeak — /bi speek /, v.t., bespoke or (Archaic) bespake; bespoken or bespoke; bespeaking. 1. to ask for in advance: to bespeak the reader s patience. 2. to reserve beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for: to bespeak a seat in a theater. 3.… …   Universalium

  • bespeak — transitive verb (bespoke; bespoken; speaking) Date: 1533 1. to hire, engage, or claim beforehand 2. to speak to especially with formality ; address 3. request < bespeak a favor > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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