beg English · revision 10301

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=c. 1200}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /beɡ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English beggen, a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It may be from the rare Old English bedecian, to beg, from the Germanic base of [[bid]] (compare Gothic bidagwa, a beggar),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) or from Anglo-French begger, a back-formation from Old French begart (see [[beggar]]), ultimately from [[Beguine]], which the OED considers the most likely source.^(Etymonline) Barnhart thinks it probably related to or formed from beggar, and notes that Anglo-French begger is recorded later than the English verb.^(Barnhart 1988) The Old English word for beg was wædlian, from wædl, poverty.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To ask alms, especially habitually as a way of life: about 1200, probably before 1200 in the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To ask earnestly or humbly for something is from 1340,^(OED 1989) and to beg to do something, as in ''I beg to differ'', from 1576.^(OED 1989) Of dogs, sitting up to ask, it is by 1762.^(Etymonline) ''To beg the question'' (1580s) translates Latin petitio principii, to assume as a basis of argument what has not been proved;^(Etymonline) it is also used to mean to evade an issue, or to raise a question.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''To beg off'', to get released by entreaty, is from 1741.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – to ask alms.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1340 – to ask earnestly.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1576 – to beg to do something.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1580s – beg the question.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1741 – beg off.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1762 – of a dog.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To ask for money or food as [[charity]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To ask earnestly or humbly; to [[entreat]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a dog, to sit up with forepaws raised.^(Collins 2023)

+ # To evade, or to take for granted without proof, as in ''beg the question''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unbegged]]

+ * [[outbeg]]

+ * [[beg off]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[beggar]]

+ * [[bid]]

+ * [[Beguine]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Beg, a Turkish title, is a different word, the same as [[bey]].^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) In the strict logical sense, to beg the question is to assume what is to be proved; its use for to raise a question is newer.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}