beg

CEFRA2

/ˈbɛɡ/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    call upon in supplication; entreat.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreat.

Examples

  • I beg to differ, as I disagree with your analysis of the situation.

  • Now you have to beg and plead.

At a glance

Sits at A2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈbeɡ/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To unwillingly provoke a negative, often violent, reaction.

  2. To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.

  3. In the phrase beg the question: to assume.

More examples

In context

  • He begged her to go to the prom with him.

  • He begged on the street corner from passers-by.

  • I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to cause offence.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The hungry dog would blank for scraps of food at the back door.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

Inherited from Middle English beggen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English *becgian, *bedcian, syncopated forms of bedecian (“to beg”), itself of obscure origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *bedukōn, a frequentative verb derived from Proto-West Germanic *bedu (“plea, petition, prayer”, whence English bead). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *bedagō (“petitioner, requester, beggar”), an agent noun from the same source. Compare North Frisian bēdagi (“to pray”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (bidagwa, “beggar”). All ultimately from the root of English bid, which see for more. An alternative theory considers the verb a backformation from beggar and derives the latter from Old Frenc...