'Bespeaking' definitions:

Definition of 'Bespeaking'

From: GCIDE
  • Bespeak \Be*speak"\, v. t. [imp. Bespoke, Bespake (Archaic); p. p. Bespoke, Bespoken; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespeaking.] [OE. bispeken, AS. besprecan, to speak to, accuse; pref. be- + sprecan to speak. See Speak.]
  • 1. To speak or arrange for beforehand; to order or engage against a future time; as, to bespeak goods, a right, or a favor. [1913 Webster]
  • Concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favor. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To show beforehand; to foretell; to indicate. [1913 Webster]
  • [They] bespoke dangers . . . in order to scare the allies. --Swift. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To betoken; to show; to indicate by external marks or appearances. [1913 Webster]
  • When the abbot of St. Martin was born, he had so little the figure of a man that it bespoke him rather a monster. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To speak to; to address. [Poetic] [1913 Webster]
  • He thus the queen bespoke. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Bespeaking'