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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
beg verb (begged, begging) tr & intr 1 to ask for (money or food, etc) • forced to beg for scraps. 2 to ask earnestly or humbly • Give me one chance, I beg you • I beg your pardon • begging for mercy. 3 said especially of an animal: to sit up on the hindquarters, or stand up on the back legs, with paws raised (like a dog asking for food or reward). beg the question 1 in an argument: to assume the truth of something which is in fact a part of what is still to be proved. 2 colloq to avoid giving an answer on a tricky matter; to dodge an awkward subject. beg to differ to disagree. go begging colloq to be unused or unwanted • I'll have that sandwich if it's going begging.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: probably from Anglo-Saxon bedecian.
beg off to ask to be excused from, or to apologize for being unable to be present at, something one had previously agreed to attend, do, take part in, etc. |
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Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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