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bespeak

 - 2 dictionary results

be⋅speak

  [bi-speek]
Use bespeak in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -spoke or (Archaic) -spake; -spo⋅ken or -spoke; -speak⋅ing.
1. to ask for in advance: to bespeak the reader's patience.
2. to reserve beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for: to bespeak a seat in a theater.
3. Literary. to speak to; address.
4. to show; indicate: This bespeaks a kindly heart.
5. Obsolete. to foretell; forebode.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME bespeken, OE besprecan. See be-, speak
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bespeak
be·speak   (bĭ-spēk')   
tr.v.   be·spoke (-spōk'), be·spo·ken (-spō'kən) or be·spoke, be·speak·ing, be·speaks

  1. To be or give a sign of; indicate. See Synonyms at indicate.

    1. To engage, hire, or order in advance. See Synonyms at book.

    2. To request: bespeak a favor.

  3. To foretell; portend: fearful weapons that bespeak great loss of life.

  4. Archaic To speak to; address.


[Middle English bispeken, to speak out, from Old English besprecan, to speak about.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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