Library / English Dictionary

BESEECH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: besought   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Ask for or request earnestly

Example:

The prophet bid all people to become good persons

Synonyms:

adjure; beseech; bid; conjure; entreat; press

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "beseech" is one way to...):

plead (appeal or request earnestly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Credits

 Context examples: 

I besought her to be calm, and prepare herself to bear what I had to tell; but I should rather have entreated her to weep, for she sat like a stone figure.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He left here, said Traddles, with his mother, who had been clamouring, and beseeching, and disclosing, the whole time.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

If Traddles were addressed as a darling, once in the course of that evening; and besought to bring something here, or carry something there, or take something up, or put something down, or find something, or fetch something, he was so addressed, by one or other of his sisters-in-law, at least twelve times in an hour.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I besought him to think of Agnes, to connect me with Agnes, to recollect how Agnes and I had grown up together, how I honoured her and loved her, how she was his pride and joy.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

If I could have seen my mother alone, I should have gone down on my knees to her and besought her forgiveness; but I saw no one, Miss Murdstone excepted, during the whole time—except at evening prayers in the parlour; to which I was escorted by Miss Murdstone after everybody else was placed; where I was stationed, a young outlaw, all alone by myself near the door; and whence I was solemnly conducted by my jailer, before any one arose from the devotional posture.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I thoroughly believe that but for those unfortunate donkeys, we should have come to a good understanding; for my aunt had laid her hand on my shoulder, and the impulse was upon me, thus emboldened, to embrace her and beseech her protection.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I might have had more difficulty in constraining myself to be silent under his words, if I had had less difficulty in impressing upon Peggotty (who was only angry on my account, good creature!) that we were not in a place for recrimination, and that I besought her to hold her peace.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The idea of their frightening her, and making her cry, and of my not being there to comfort her, was so excruciating, that it impelled me to write a wild letter to Mr. Spenlow, beseeching him not to visit upon her the consequences of my awful destiny.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Thus earnestly besought, I made no reference to the Doctor for his permission, but, without any other compromise of the truth than a little softening of the coarseness of Uriah Heep, related plainly what had passed in that same room that night.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)