beg
1
[ beg ]
/ bɛg /
verb (used with object), begged, beg·ging.
verb (used without object), begged, beg·ging.
Verb Phrases
beg off,
to request or obtain release from an obligation, promise, etc.: He had promised to drive us to the recital but begged off at the last minute.
Idioms for beg
beg the question,
to assume the truth of the very point raised in a question.
go begging,
to remain open or available, as a position that is unfilled or an unsold item: The job went begging for lack of qualified applicants.
Origin of beg
1
before 900; Middle English
beggen, by assimilation from Old English
*bedican, syncopated variant of
bedecian to beg; compare Gothic
bidagwa beggar. See
bead
synonym study for beg
2.
Beg and
request are used in certain conventional formulas, in the sense of
ask.
Beg, once a part of many formal expressions used in letter writing, debate, etc., is now used chiefly in such courteous formulas as
I beg your pardon; The Committee begs to report, etc.
Request, more impersonal and now more formal, is used in giving courteous orders (
You are requested to report ) and in commercial formulas like
to request payment.
OTHER WORDS FROM beg
half-beg·ging, adjective un·begged, adjectiveWords nearby beg
Definition for beg (2 of 3)
Origin of beg
2
1680–90; ≪ Turkic; see
bey
Definition for beg (3 of 3)
Example sentences from the Web for beg
British Dictionary definitions for beg (1 of 2)
beg
1
/ (bɛɡ) /
verb begs, begging or begged
(when intr , often foll by for)
to solicit (for money, food, etc), esp in the street
to ask (someone) for (something or leave to do something) formally, humbly, or earnestly
I beg forgiveness; I beg to differ
(intr)
(of a dog) to sit up with forepaws raised expectantly
to leave unanswered or unresolved
to beg a point
beg the question
- to evade the issue
- to assume the thing under examination as proved
- to suggest that a question needs to be askedthe firm's success begs the question: why aren't more companies doing the same?
go begging or go a-begging
to be unwanted or unused
See also
beg off
Word Origin for beg
C13: probably from Old English
bedecian; related to Gothic
bidagwa
beggar
usage for beg
The use of
beg the question to mean that a question needs to be asked is considered by some people to be incorrect
British Dictionary definitions for beg (2 of 2)
Idioms and Phrases with beg
beg