I. ˈbeg verb
( begged ; beg·ging )
Etymology: Middle English beggen
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1. : to ask for as a charity
2.
a. : to ask earnestly for : entreat
b. : to require as necessary or appropriate
3. : evade , sidestep
begged the real problems
intransitive verb
1. : to ask for alms
2. : to ask earnestly
begged for mercy
•
- beg the question
Synonyms:
beg , entreat , beseech , implore , supplicate , adjure , importune mean to ask urgently. beg suggests earnestness or insistence especially in asking for a favor
children begging to stay up late
entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance
entreated him to change his mind
beseech implies great eagerness or anxiety
I beseech you to have mercy
implore adds to beseech a suggestion of greater urgency or anguished appeal
implored her not to leave him
supplicate suggests a posture of humility
with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord
adjure implies advising as well as pleading and suggests the invoking of something sacred
in God's name I adjure you to cease
importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request
importuning viewers for contributions
II. abbreviation
begin; beginning