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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.