beg

¹

[beg]

verb (used with object)

begged, begging 

1. to ask for as a gift, as charity, or as a favor: to beg forgiveness.

   to beg alms;

   to beg forgiveness.

2. to ask (someone) to give or do something; implore.

   He begged me for mercy.

   Sit down, I beg you.

   Synonyms: petition, beseech, pray, entreat

3. to take for granted without basis or justification.

   a statement that begs the very point we're disputing.

4. to fail or refuse to come to grips with; avoid; evade.

   a report that consistently begs the whole problem.

verb (used without object)

begged, begging 

1. to ask alms or charity; live by asking alms.

2. to ask humbly or earnestly: begging to differ.

   begging for help;

   begging to differ.

3. (of a dog) to sit up, as trained, in a posture of entreaty.

verb phrase

1. 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.

beg

²

[beyg, beg]

noun

1. bey.

beg.

³

abbreviation

1. begin.

2. beginning.

beg

¹

/ bɛɡ /

verb

1. to solicit (for money, food, etc), esp in the street

2. to ask (someone) for (something or leave to do something) formally, humbly, or earnestly

   I beg forgiveness

   I beg to differ

3. (intr) (of a dog) to sit up with forepaws raised expectantly

4. to leave unanswered or unresolved

   to beg a point

5. 1. to evade the issue

   2. to assume the thing under examination as proved

   3. to suggest that a question needs to be asked

      the firm's success begs the question: why aren't more companies doing the same?

6. to be unwanted or unused

beg

²

/ bɛɡ /

noun

1. a variant of bey

Usage

The use of beg the question to mean that a question needs to be asked is considered by some people to be incorrect

Other Word Forms

• half-begging adjective
• unbegged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beg¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English beggen, by assimilation from unattested Old English bedican, variant of bedecian “to beg”; compare Gothic bidagwa “beggar”

Origin of beg²

First recorded in 1680–90; from Ottoman Turkish; bey

Word History and Origins

Origin of beg¹

C13: probably from Old English bedecian ; related to Gothic bidagwa _beggar

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. beg the question,

   1. to assume the truth of the very point raised in a question.

   2. to evade the issue or avoid a direct answer.

   3. to raise the question; inspire one to ask.

More idioms and phrases containing beg

• go begging

Synonym Study

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 state, 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.

Example Sentences

Williams begged to ride with her son to the hospital but was told she couldn’t.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The weather begged for a ground-heavy game, which seemingly suited Iowa’s usual approach.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And several members of the staff have told me that they have repeatedly begged the manager to turn down the volume.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Martinez's side spurned one chance to qualify in October when they drew with Hungary and another went begging at the Aviva Stadium as Ireland recorded an unforgettable triumph.

Read more on Barron's

A glossy pumpkin butter practically begs for chopped pecans, a spoonful of almond butter and a whisper of cream cheese.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• ask 
• beseech 
• implore 
• plead 
• pray 
• solicit 
• sue 
• urge