Bespake
simple past tense of bespeak.
to ask for in advance:
to bespeak the reader’s patience.
to reserve beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for:
to bespeak a seat in a theater.
Literary. to speak to; address.
to show; indicate:
This bespeaks a kindly heart.
Obsolete. to foretell; forebode.
Historical Examples
These two smiled on him and bespake him kindly, but would not help him when he bade them set shoulder to her bows and shove.
The Story of the Glittering Plain William Morris
Then it was that suitors caught a glimpse of their future brides, and received glances which bespake love.
The Story of Moscow Wirt Gerrare
By your leave, Master Seldom, have you done the hangers I bespake for the knight?
A Select Collection of Old English Plays (11 of 15) W. Carew Hazlitt
verb (transitive) -speaks, -speaking, -spoke, -spoken, -spoke
to engage, request, or ask for in advance
to indicate or suggest: this act bespeaks kindness
(poetic) to speak to; address
(archaic) to foretell
v.
Old English besprecan “speak about, speak against, complain,” from be- + sprecan “to speak” (see speak). A common Germanic compound (cf. Old Saxon bisprecan, Dutch bespreken, Old High German bisprehhan, German besprechen); originally “to call out,” it evolved a wide range of meaning in English, including “speak up,” “oppose,” “request,” “discuss, “arrange,” and “to order (goods)” (1580s).
The connection of the senses is very loose; some of them appear to have arisen quite independently of each other from different applications of BE- pref. [OED]
Read Also:
- Bespangle
to cover or adorn with or as if with spangles; make sparkle brilliantly: grass bespangled with dewdrops; poetry bespangled with vivid imagery. verb (transitive) to cover or adorn with or as if with spangles v. 1610s, from be- + spangle. Related: Bespangled; bespangling.
- Bespatter
to soil by spattering; splash with water, dirt, etc. to slander or libel: a reputation bespattered by malicious gossip. Historical Examples This is the nameless refuse which flings itself to bespatter Masonry. Devil-Worship in France Arthur Edward Waite The mosquitoes 412 trouble me so much that in driving them away I bespatter my paper with […]
- Bespeak
to ask for in advance: to bespeak the reader’s patience. to reserve beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for: to bespeak a seat in a theater. Literary. to speak to; address. to show; indicate: This bespeaks a kindly heart. Obsolete. to foretell; forebode. Historical Examples Permit me most earnestly to bespeak this confidence, as we […]
- Bespeckle
to speckle. v. c.1600, from be- + speckle. Related: Bespeckled; bespeckling.
- Bespoke
a simple past tense and past participle of bespeak. British. (of clothes) made to individual order; custom-made: a bespoke jacket. making or selling such clothes: a bespoke tailor. Older Use. engaged to be married; spoken for. to ask for in advance: to bespeak the reader’s patience. to reserve beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for: […]