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beseech

[bih-seech]
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verb (used with object), be·sought or be·seeched, be·seech·ing.
  1. to implore urgently: They besought him to go at once.
  2. to beg eagerly for; solicit.
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verb (used without object), be·sought or be·seeched, be·seech·ing.
  1. to make urgent appeal: Earnestly did I beseech, but to no avail.
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Origin of beseech

before 1100; Middle English bisechen, Old English besēcan. See be-, seek
Related formsbe·seech·er, nounbe·seech·ing·ly, adverbbe·seech·ing·ness, nounun·be·seech·ing, adjectiveun·be·seech·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. pray, petition, supplicate, adjure. 1, 2. entreat, importune.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

implore, sue, invoke, pray, importune, entreat, crave, solicit, plead, ask, supplicate, appeal, adjure, petition

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British Dictionary definitions for beseech

beseech

verb -seeches, -seeching, -sought or -seeched
  1. (tr) to ask (someone) earnestly (to do something or for something); beg
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Derived Formsbeseecher, nounbeseeching, adjectivebeseechingly, adverb

Word Origin

C12: see be-, seek; related to Old Frisian besēka
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for beseech

v.

late 12c., bisecen "to beseech, beg urgently," from be- + Middle English secen "to seek" (see seek). German cognate besuchen is merely "to visit." Related: Besought; beseeching.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper