To speak of

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 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.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • speak — W1S1 [spi:k] v past tense spoke [spəuk US spouk] past participle spoken [ˈspəukən US ˈspou ] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(in conversation)¦ 2¦(say words)¦ 3¦(language)¦ 4¦(formal speech)¦ 5¦(express ideas/opinions)¦ 6 so to speak 7 speak your mind …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • speak — [ spik ] (past tense spoke [ spouk ] ; past participle spo|ken [ spoukən ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 talk about something or to someone ▸ 2 use voice to talk ▸ 3 talk particular language ▸ 4 give formal speech ▸ 5 express ideas/thoughts ▸ 6 talk on… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Speak — Ст …   Википедия

  • 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 of the Devil — is an idiom or phrase used in both written and spoken English. It is used when an object of discussion (normally a person) unexpectedly becomes present during the conversation. For example, if Alice and Bob start discussing Charlie while he isn t …   Wikipedia

  • SPEAK campaign — SPEAK, the Voice for the Animals is a British animal rights campaign that aims to end animal experimentation in the UK. Its current focus is opposition to a new animal testing centre being built by Oxford University. TOC HistoryThe campaign was… …   Wikipedia

  • Speak White — (en français, « Parlez blanc ») est une injure proférée aux Canadiens français par les Canadiens anglais lorsqu ils parlent le français en public. Cette expression péjorative n est presque plus utilisée de nos jours, généralement… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Speak white — (en français : « Parlez blanc ») est une injure proférée aux Canadiens français par les Canadiens anglais lorsqu ils parlaient français en public. Cette expression péjorative n est plus utilisée de nos jours. L invective a… …   Wikipédia en Français

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

  • Speak & Spell — Álbum de Depeche Mode Publicación 5 de octubre de 1981 en Inglaterra 6 de octubre en Estados Unidos Grabación Blackwing Studios, Londres, en 1981 Género(s) …   Wikipedia Español

  • 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

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”