beg

1 [beg] verb, begged, beg·ging.
verb (used with object)
1.
to ask for as a gift, as charity, or as a favor: 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.
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)
5.
to ask alms or charity; live by asking alms.
6.
to ask humbly or earnestly: begging for help; begging to differ.
7.
(of a dog) to sit up, as trained, in a posture of entreaty.
00:10
Beg is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
to spend time idly; loaf.
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Verb phrases
8.
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
9.
beg the question, to assume the truth of the very point raised in a question.
10.
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:
before 900; Middle English beggen, by assimilation from Old English *bedican, syncopated variant of bedecian to beg; compare Gothic bidagwa beggar. See bead

Related forms
half-beg·ging, adjective
un·begged, adjective

Synonyms
2. entreat, pray, beseech, petition. 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

beg

2 [beyg, beg]
noun
bey.
Origin:
1680–90; ≪ Turkic; see bey

beg.

1.
begin.
2.
beginning.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To BEG
Collins
World English Dictionary
beg1 (bɛɡ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb (when intr, often foll by for) , begs, begging, begged
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.  beg the question
 a.  to evade the issue
 b.  to assume the thing under examination as proved
 c.  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.  go begging, go a-begging to be unwanted or unused
 
usage  The use of beg the question to mean that a question needs to be asked is considered by some people to be incorrect

beg2 (bɛɡ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
a variant of bey

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

beg
early 13c., perhaps from O.E. bedecian "to beg," from P.Gmc. *beth-; or possibly from Anglo-Fr. begger, from O.Fr. begart (see beggar). The O.E. word for "beg" was wædlian, from wædl "poverty." Of trained dogs, 1816. As a courteous mode of asking (beg pardon,
etc.), first attested c.1600. To beg the question translates L. petitio principii, and means "to assume something that hasn't been proven as a basis of one's argument," thus "asking" one's opponent to give something unearned, though more of the nature of taking it for granted without warrant.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

BEG definition


Back End Generator

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
BEG
big evil grin
beg.

  1. begin

  2. beginning

The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Easton
Bible Dictionary

Beg definition


That the poor existed among the Hebrews we have abundant evidence (Ex. 23:11; Deut. 15:11), but there is no mention of beggars properly so called in the Old Testament. The poor were provided for by the law of Moses (Lev. 19:10; Deut. 12:12; 14:29). It is predicted of the seed of the wicked that they shall be beggars (Ps. 37:25; 109:10). In the New Testament we find not seldom mention made of beggars (Mark 10:46; Luke 16:20, 21; Acts 3:2), yet there is no mention of such a class as vagrant beggars, so numerous in the East. "Beggarly," in Gal. 4:9, means worthless.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

beg

In addition to the idioms beginning with beg, also see go begging.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

beg

title among Turkish peoples traditionally given to rulers of small tribal groups, to members of ruling families, and to important officials. Under the Ottoman Empire a bey was the governor of a province, distinguished by his own flag (sancak, liwa). In Tunis after 1705 the title become hereditary for the country's sovereign. Later "bey" became a general title of respect in Turkish and Arab countries, added after a personal name and equivalent to "esquire" (or "sir" in conversation) in English. In the 20th-century Turkish republic, bey, though surviving in polite conversation, was replaced by bay before the name (equivalent to "Mr.").

Learn more about beg with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
They claim to be in trouble-a car accident, say-and beg for several million yen
  to be sent to a certain bank account at once.
They don't beg because they have never had people food.
Often, they will beg for a living or work as garbage collectors.
They beg for ingredients and money to make a gumbo that will later be enjoyed
  by the entire community.
Idioms & Phrases
beg
go begging
MORE
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT