Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Beseech
Be-seech′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Besought
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beseeching
.] [OE.
bisechen
, biseken
(akin to G. besuchen
to visit); pref. be-
+ sechen
, seken
, to seek. See Seek
.] 1.
To ask or entreat with urgency; to supplicate; to implore.
I
beseech
you, punish me not with your hard thoughts. Shakespeare
But Eve . . .
besought
his peace. Milton.
Syn. – To beg; to crave.
–
To Beseech
, Entreat
, Solicit
, Implore
, Supplicate
. These words agree in marking that sense of want which leads men to beg some favor. To solicit is to make a request, with some degree of earnestness and repetition, of one whom we address as a superior. To entreat implies greater urgency, usually enforced by adducing reasons or arguments. To beseech is still stronger, and belongs rather to the language of poetry and imagination. To implore denotes increased fervor of entreaty, as addressed either to equals or superiors. To supplicate expresses the extreme of entreaty, and usually implies a state of deep humiliation. Thus, a captive supplicates a conqueror to spare his life. Men solicit by virtue of their interest with another; they entreat in the use of reasoning and strong representations; they beseech with importunate earnestness; they implore from a sense of overwhelming distress; they supplicate with a feeling of the most absolute inferiority and dependence. Be-seech′
,Noun.
Solicitation; supplication.
[Obs. or Poetic]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Beseech
BESEE'CH
,Verb.
T.
To entreat; to supplicate; to implore; to ask or pray with urgency; followed by a person; as, 'I Paul beseech you by the meekness of Christ,', 2 Cor.10.; or by a thing; as, I beseech your patience.
Definition 2024
beseech
beseech
English
Alternative forms
Verb
beseech (third-person singular simple present beseeches, present participle beseeching, simple past and past participle beseeched or besought)
- To beg or implore.
- 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.
- 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, London, Oxford University Press, 1973, § 25:
Translations
to beg
|
Related terms
Noun
beseech (plural beseeches)
- (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; [...]
- 1839, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, George Darley, The works of Beaumont and Fletcher: Volume 1: