be·speak (b -sp k )tr.v. be·spoke (-sp k), be·spo·ken (-spk n) or be·spoke, be·speak·ing, be·speaks 1. To be or give a sign of; indicate. See Synonyms at indicate. 2. a. To engage, hire, or order in advance. See Synonyms at book. b. 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.] |
bespeak Verb [-speaking, -spoke; -spoken] or -spoke 1. to indicate or suggest: imitation bespeaks admiration 2. to engage or ask for in advance: she was bespoke to a family in the town
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Verb | 1. | bespeak - be a signal for or a symptom of; "These symptoms indicate a serious illness"; "Her behavior points to a severe neurosis"; "The economic indicators signal that the euro is undervalued"augur, auspicate, bode, omen, portend, foreshadow, presage, prognosticate, predict, prefigure, betoken, forecast, foretell - indicate by signs; "These signs bode bad news" mark - designate as if by a mark; "This sign marks the border" tell - let something be known; "Tell them that you will be late" | | 2. | bespeak - express the need or desire for; ask for; "She requested an extra bed in her room"; "She called for room service"order - make a request for something; "Order me some flowers"; "order a work stoppage" ask - make a request or demand for something to somebody; "She asked him for a loan" encore - request an encore, from a performer petition - write a petition for something to somebody; request formally and in writing demand - request urgently and forcefully; "The victim's family is demanding compensation"; "The boss demanded that he be fired immediately"; "She demanded to see the manager" appeal, invoke - request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection; "appeal to somebody for help"; "Invoke God in times of trouble" supplicate - ask for humbly or earnestly, as in prayer; "supplicate God's blessing" apply - ask (for something); "He applied for a leave of absence"; "She applied for college"; "apply for a job" solicit, beg, tap - make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently; "Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce"; "My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities" reserve - obtain or arrange (for oneself) in advance; "We managed to reserve a table at Maxim's" challenge - ask for identification; "The illegal immigrant was challenged by the border guard" beg off, excuse - ask for permission to be released from an engagement demand - ask to be informed of; "I demand an explanation" claim - ask for legally or make a legal claim to, as of debts, for example; "They claimed on the maximum allowable amount" call for, invite - request the participation or presence of; "The organizers invite submissions of papers for the conference" call for, invite - request the participation or presence of; "The organizers invite submissions of papers for the conference" ask in, invite - ask to enter; "We invited the neighbors in for a cup of coffee" beg - ask to obtain free; "beg money and food" arrogate, lay claim, claim - demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to; "He claimed his suitcases at the airline counter"; "Mr. Smith claims special tax exemptions because he is a foreign resident" call - call a meeting; invite or command to meet; "The Wannsee Conference was called to discuss the `Final Solution'"; "The new dean calls meetings every week" book, reserve, hold - arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance; "reserve me a seat on a flight"; "The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family"; "please hold a table at Maxim's" |
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