To speak well for

To speak well for
Speak Speak, v. i. [imp. {Spoke}({Spake}Archaic); p. p. {Spoken}({Spoke}, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Speaking}.] [OE. speken, AS. specan, sprecan; akin to OF.ries. spreka, D. spreken, OS. spreken, G. sprechen, OHG. sprehhan, and perhaps to Skr. sph[=u]rj to crackle, to thunder. Cf. {Spark} of fire, {Speech}.] 1. To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so obstructed that a man may not be able to speak. [1913 Webster]

Till at the last spake in this manner. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. --1 Sam. iii. 9. [1913 Webster]

2. To express opinions; to say; to talk; to converse. [1913 Webster]

That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set, as the tradesmen speak. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]

An honest man, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

During the century and a half which followed the Conquest, there is, to speak strictly, no English history. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

3. To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to adress a public assembly formally. [1913 Webster]

Many of the nobility made themselves popular by speaking in Parliament against those things which were most grateful to his majesty. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]

4. To discourse; to make mention; to tell. [1913 Webster]

Lycan speaks of a part of C[ae]sar's army that came to him from the Leman Lake. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

5. To give sound; to sound. [1913 Webster]

Make all our trumpets speak. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by utterance; as, features that speak of self-will. [1913 Webster]

Thine eye begins to speak. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{To speak of}, to take account of, to make mention of. --Robynson (More's Utopia).

{To speak out}, to speak loudly and distinctly; also, to speak unreservedly.

{To speak well for}, to commend; to be favorable to.

{To speak with}, to converse with. ``Would you speak with me?'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce; utter. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Speak — Speak, v. i. [imp. {Spoke}({Spake}Archaic); p. p. {Spoken}({Spoke}, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Speaking}.] [OE. speken, AS. specan, sprecan; akin to OF.ries. spreka, D. spreken, OS. spreken, G. sprechen, OHG. sprehhan, and perhaps to Skr …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • speak for — {v.} 1. To speak in favor of or in support of. * /At the meeting John spoke for the change in the rules./ * /The other girls made jokes about Jane, but Mary spoke for her./ 2. To make a request for; to ask for. * /The teacher was giving away some …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • speak for — {v.} 1. To speak in favor of or in support of. * /At the meeting John spoke for the change in the rules./ * /The other girls made jokes about Jane, but Mary spoke for her./ 2. To make a request for; to ask for. * /The teacher was giving away some …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • To speak of — Speak Speak, v. i. [imp. {Spoke}({Spake}Archaic); p. p. {Spoken}({Spoke}, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Speaking}.] [OE. speken, AS. specan, sprecan; akin to OF.ries. spreka, D. spreken, OS. spreken, G. sprechen, OHG. sprehhan, and perhaps… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To speak out — Speak Speak, v. i. [imp. {Spoke}({Spake}Archaic); p. p. {Spoken}({Spoke}, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Speaking}.] [OE. speken, AS. specan, sprecan; akin to OF.ries. spreka, D. spreken, OS. spreken, G. sprechen, OHG. sprehhan, and perhaps… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To speak with — Speak Speak, v. i. [imp. {Spoke}({Spake}Archaic); p. p. {Spoken}({Spoke}, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Speaking}.] [OE. speken, AS. specan, sprecan; akin to OF.ries. spreka, D. spreken, OS. spreken, G. sprechen, OHG. sprehhan, and perhaps… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • SPEAK network — SPEAK is an evangelical Christian network which connects people to campaign and pray on issues of global justice. Through bringing change to situations of injustice SPEAK aims to share their faith in God.SPEAK combines campaigning and prayer… …   Wikipedia

  • Speak & Spell (album) — Speak Spell Studio album by Depeche Mode Released 5 October 1981 …   Wikipedia

  • Speak, Memory — (ISBN 0375405534) is an autobiographical memoir by writer Vladimir Nabokov.copeThe first twelve chapters describe Nabokov s remembrance of his youth in a quasi aristocratic family living in pre revolutionary Saint Petersburg and their country… …   Wikipedia

  • speak the same language — {v. phr.} To have similar feelings, thoughts, and tastes; have a mutual understanding with another person. * /We both love listening to Mozart. Obviously, we speak the same language./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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