Adjacent Words

Bespeaking definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BESPE'AKING, ppr. Speaking for or ordering beforehand; foreboding; addressing; showing; indicating.
BESPE'AKING, n. A previous speaking or discourse,by way of apology, or to engage favor.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Bespeak Be*speak", v. t. [imp. Bespoke, Bespake (Archaic); p. p. Bespoke, Bespoken; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespeaking.] [OE. bispeken, AS. besprecan, to speak to, accuse; pref. be- + sprecan to speak. See Speak.] 1. To speak or arrange for beforehand; to order or engage against a future time; as, to bespeak goods, a right, or a favor. Concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favor. --Sir W. Scott. 2. To show beforehand; to foretell; to indicate. [They] bespoke dangers . . . in order to scare the allies. --Swift. 3. To betoken; to show; to indicate by external marks or appearances. When the abbot of St. Martin was born, he had so little the figure of a man that it bespoke him rather a monster. --Locke. 4. To speak to; to address. [Poetic] He thus the queen bespoke. --Dryden.