Dictionary
beg
Pronunciation: (beg), [key]
—v., begged, beg•ging.
—
v.t.
1. to ask for as a gift, as charity, or as a favor:
to beg alms; to beg forgiveness.
2. to ask (someone) to give or do something; implore:
He begged me for mercy. Sit down, I beg you.
3. to take for granted without basis or justification:
a statement that begs the very point we're disputing.
4. to fail or refuse to come to grips with; avoid; evade:
a report that consistently begs the whole problem.
—
v.i.
1. to ask alms or charity; live by asking alms.
2. to ask humbly or earnestly:
begging for help; begging to differ.
3. (of a dog) to sit up, as trained, in a posture of entreaty.
4. beg off,to request or obtain release from an obligation, promise, etc.:
He had promised to drive us to the recital but begged off at the last minute.
5. beg the question, to assume the truth of the very point raised in a question.
6. go begging, to remain open or available, as a position that is unfilled or an unsold item:
The job went begging for lack of qualified applicants. beg
Pronunciation: (bāg, beg), [key]—
n.
bey.
beg.
1. begin.
2. beginning.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
