beg

name

Etymology: Various origins: * As an Islamic (Indian subcontinent as Hindi बेग (beg)) and sometimes Serbo-Croatian surname, from the Turkish title beg, an older form of bey. See Bey; also compare Baig. * Borrowed from Slovene Beg, from beg (“escape, getaway”).

1. A surname from Hindi.

noun

1. Abbreviation of beginning.

   “Knit with MC until work measures 3 inches from beg.”

verb

Etymology: Inherited from Middle English beggen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English *becgian, *bedcian, syncopated forms of bedecian (“to beg”), itself of obscure origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *bedukōn, a frequentative verb derived from Proto-West Germanic *bedu (“plea, petition, prayer”, whence English bead). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *bedagō (“petitioner, requester, beggar”), an agent noun from the same source. Compare North Frisian bēdagi (“to pray”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (bidagwa, “beggar”). All ultimately from the root of English bid, which see for more. An alternative theory considers the verb a backformation from beggar and derives the latter from Old French begart (“kind of lay brother”).

1. To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.

   “He begged on the street corner from passers-by.”

2. To plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreat.

   “I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to cause offence.”

   “He begged her to go to the prom with him.”

3. To unwillingly provoke a negative, often violent, reaction.

   “The way you keep eating raw meat, you're just begging to get tapeworms.”

4. To obviously lack or be in need of something.

   “A captivating novel that just begs for a movie adaptation”

   “The colors in this cell are as dull as its architects must have been. An endless expanse of drab-green textured walls, contrasting with the gray concrete floor. It begs redecoration.”

5. In the phrase beg the question: to assume.
6. In the phrase beg the question: to raise (a question).
7. To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for.

   “Else some will beg thee, in the court of wards.”