English Explanatory Dictionary

beg

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.
  2. To plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreat.
  3. To unwillingly provoke a negative, often violent, reaction.
  4. To obviously lack or be in need of something.
  5. In the phrase beg the question: to assume.
  6. In the phrase beg the question: to raise (a question).
  7. To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for.
noun
  1. The act of begging; an imploring request.
  2. A pretentious, attention-seeking, or eccentric individual.
noun
  1. Alternative form of bey.
noun
  1. Abbreviation of beginning.
name
  1. A surname from Hindi.

Pronunciation

/ˈbɛɡ/ [ˈbɛɡ] En-us-beg.ogg /ˈbeɡ/ [ˈbeɡ] /ˈbeɪ̯ɡ/ [ˈbeɪ̯ɡ]

Word forms

beg begs begging begged

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English beggen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English *becgian, *bedcian, syncopated forms of bedecian (“to beg”), itself of obscure origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *bedukōn, a frequentative verb derived from Proto-West Germanic *bedu (“plea, petition, prayer”, whence English bead). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *bedagō (“petitioner, requester, beggar”), an agent noun from the same source. Compare North Frisian bēdagi (“to pray”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (bidagwa, “beggar”). All ultimately from the root of English bid, which see for more. An alternative theory considers the verb a backformation from beggar and derives the latter from Old French begart (“kind of lay brother”).

Synonyms

beseech entreat sue supplicate

Antonyms

set aside

Related words

beggar

Derived words

begathon beg button beg for mercy beg for one's life beg for someone's life beggable beg off begpacker begpacking beg parding beg pardon beg someone's pardon beg the question beg to differ begware beg yours bleg go begging good voice to beg bacon I beg your pardon outbeg sit-up-and-beg soft begging unbegged
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