bespeak
pronunciation
How to pronounce bespeak in British English:
UK [bɪˈspi:k]
How to pronounce bespeak in American English:
US [bɪˈspik]
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- Verb:
- be a signal for or a symptom of
- express the need or desire for; ask for
Word Origin
- bespeak (v.)
- Old English besprecan "speak about, speak against, complain," from be- + sprecan "to speak" (see speak (v.)). A common Germanic compound (cognates: Old Saxon bisprecan, Dutch bespreken, Old High German bisprehhan, German besprechen); originally "to call out," it evolved a wide range of meaning in English, including "speak up," "oppose," "request," "discuss, "arrange," and "to order (goods)" (1580s). The connection of the senses is very loose; some of them appear to have arisen quite independently of each other from different applications of BE- pref. [OED]
Example
- 1. These shifts bespeak dissatisfaction with the constraints of traditional banqueting .
- 2. Fearful weapons that bespeak great loss of life .
- 3. End , bespeak began to accept , right ?
- 4. Maybe someone bespeak it for you ?
- 5. His polite manners bespeak the gentleman .