entreat

present singular third person entreats · participle present entreating · participle past entreated · past entreated · first person past singular entreated · archaic present second person singular entreatest · past second person singular entreated · archaic past second person singular entreatedst · present singular third person entreats · archaic present singular third person entreateth · past singular third person entreated · past plural entreated · past subjunctive entreated · participle present entreating · participle past entreated · alternative intreat

1. Senses relating to asking or pleading.
   1. transitiveTo ask earnestly or beg for (something, such as a benefit or favour).

      My Lord vve muſt entreate the time alone.

      My Lord, we must ask earnestly for some time alone.

      c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Juliet. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, published 1597, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature H2, verso

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      If you be ſhe, I doe intreat your patience / To heare me ſpeake the meſſage I am ſent on.

      c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], page 35, column 2

      Our tyred lymbes, bruſ'd in the morning fight, / Intreat ſoft reſt, and gentle huſht repoſe.

      c. 1599 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], The History of Antonio and Mellida. The First Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Mathewe Lownes, and Thomas Fisher, […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act II, signature D3, verso

      Thy Dukedome I reſigne, and doe entreat / Thou pardon me my vvrongs: […]

      1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 17, column 1

      And the daughter of Tyre ſhall be there with a gift, euen the rich among the people ſhall intreate thy fauour.

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalm 45:12, signature Ddd2, verso, column 2

      Sir, I have made ſo ill uſe of your former favors, as by them to be encouraged to intreat that they may be enlarged to the patronage and protection of this Book; […]

      1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], “To the Right Worshipful John Offley of Madely Manor in the County of Stafford, Esq; My Most Honoured Friend”, in The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, […], London: […] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, […], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN

      Synonyms: supplicate

   2. transitiveTo earnestly ask or beg (someone); to beseech, to implore.

      Ask me no questions, I entreat you.

      1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 6.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 265

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      Then Pharaoh called for Moſes and Aaron, and ſaid, Intreat the Lord, that hee may take away the frogges from me, and from my people: […]

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 8:8, signature F3, verso, column 1

      Go vvhen you vvill, (ſaid Agamemnon) fly, / Ile not entreat you for my ſake to ſtay.

      1676, Homer, “Iliad. Lib[er] I.”, in Tho[mas] Hobbes, transl., Homer’s Iliads in English. […], London: […] J[ames] C[ottrel] for William Crook[e] […], →OCLC, page 5

      And here I muſt intreat the Reader to preſerve his full freedom of mind intire, and not vveakly ſuffer his judgment to be overborn by your imagination and your prejudices, by Ghoſts and Viſions, and above all by that extreme ſatisfaction and complacency vvith vvhich you utter your ſtrange conceits; […]

      1735, [George Berkeley], A Defence of Free-thinking in Mathematics. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, paragraph XXX, page 33

      [A]ll vvhom I entreat to ſing, are inſtantaneouſly troubled vvith colds; […]

      1751 September 13 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. 153. Monday, September 3. 1751.”, in The Rambler, volume VI, Edinburgh: […] Sands, Murray, and Cochran; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1751, →OCLC, page 169

      His spear gored thy breast, O Ethelwold; though with supplications thou intreatedst him to spare thy life.

      1797, Ulric and Ilvina: The Scandinavian Tale. […], volume I, London: […] Allen and West, […], →OCLC, page 34

   3. obsoletetransitiveTo try to influence or persuade (someone); to induce, to prevail upon.

      [S]he could in no wiſe be intreated with her good vyll to delyuer him, […]

      1569, Richard Grafton, “Edwarde the Fift”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume II, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 768

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      This ſhould intreat your highneſſe to reioice, / Since Fortune giues you opportunity, / To gaine the tytle of a Conquerour, […]

      c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene i, signature A5, recto

      No ſolace could her Paramour intreat / Her once to ſhovv, ne court, ne dalliaunce, / But vvith bent lovvring brovves, as ſhe vvould threat, / She ſcould, and frovvnd vvith frovvard countenaunce, / Vnvvorthy of faire Ladies comely gouernaunce.

      1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 35, page 215

      VVith a hundred bleſsings and many praiers thou intreatſt mee to loue thee.

      1592, Tho[mas] Nashe, “The Arrainment and Execution of the Third Letter”, in Strange Newes, of the Intercepting Certaine Letters and a Convoy of Verses, […], London: […] Iohn Danter, […], →OCLC, signature L2, recto

      I haue beene vvooed as I intreat thee novv, / Euen by the ſterne, and direfull god of vvarre, / VVhoſe ſinovvie necke in battel nere did bovv, / VVho conquers vvhere he comes in euerie iarre, […]

      1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC, signature Biij, recto, lines [97–100]

      If my tongue cannot intreate you to acquit mee, vvill you commaund me to vſe my legges?

      c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Epilogue”, in The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, signature L, verso

   4. intransitiveOften followed by for: to ask earnestly or to beg for a benefit, favour, etc.; to appeal, to plead.

      Still ſhe intreats, and prettily intreats, / For to a prettie eare ſhe tunes her tale.

      1593, [William Shakespeare], Venus and Adonis, London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC, signature Bij, verso

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      [T]he rayſing of people, and aſſemble of Souldiours by him, could ſignifie no peace, nor treatie of concorde: except a man ſhould ſaye, that intreating for fauour with naked ſworde in hande, were an humble ſubmiſſion and a meeke requeſt: […]

      1569, Richard Grafton, “The Seuenth Age, and Seuenth Part of this Chronicle. Henrye the Sixt.”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume I, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 636

      Theſe are the motives, vvhich t' induce, / Or fright us into Love, you uſe, / […] / Like ſturdy Beggers, that intreat, / For Charity, at once, and threat, […]

      1677 (indicated as 1678), [Samuel Butler], “The Ladies Answer to the Knight”, in Hudibras. The Third and Last Part. […], London: […] Simon Miller, […], →OCLC, page 265

      [S]he diſdains and threatens, and again is humble, and intreats; and nothing availing, deſpairs, curſes, and at laſt becomes her ovvn Executioner.

      1697, John Dryden, “To the Most Honourable John, Lord Marquess of Normanby, […]”, in Virgil, translated by John Dryden, The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page [170]

      [S]he had made some knocking, and she owned she had heard her moan bitterly, as she entreated for admission.

      1823 December 23 (indicated as 1824), [Walter Scott], “The Catastrophe”, in St Ronan’s Well. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 290

      Behold it is not Pepi [I Meryre] who entreateth to see thee in the form which thou art [hieroglyphic text omitted], O Osiris, who entreateth to see thee in the form in which thou art, O Osiris; but it is thy son who entreateth to see thee in the form in which thou art, O Osiris, it is Horus who entreateth to see thee in the form in which thou art […]

      1895, “Introduction [Egyptian Ideas of God]”, in E[rnest] A[lfred Thompson] Wallis Budge, transl., The Book of the Dead. The Papyrus of Ani in the British Museum. The Egyptian Text with Interlinear Transliteration and Translation, a Running Translation, Introduction, etc., London: Sold at the British Museum; and by Longmans & Co., […], →OCLC, page lxxiii

   5. archaicintransitiveTo make a petition or request on behalf of someone; to intercede, to plead.

      Wil ye accepte yͤ perſonne of God, and intreate for him?

      1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Job xiij:[8], folio iiij, verso, column 2

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      That if ſhe loue me, I charge her to loue thee: if ſhe vvill not, I vvill neuer haue her, vlneſſe thou intreat for her: […]

      c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 202, column 2

      [T]hey […] charg'd me on paine / Of their diſpleaſure, neither to ſpeake of him, / Intreat for him, nor in any vvay ſuſtaine him.

      c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […], published 1608, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], signature G, recto

      And Moſes ſaide vnto Pharaoh, Glory ouer mee: when ſhall I entreat for thee, and for thy ſeruants, and for thy people to deſtroy the frogges from thee, and thy houſes, that they may remaine in the riuer onely?

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 8:9, signature F3, verso, column 1

      And, for your envoy, he shall die, the rather and the sooner that thou dost entreat for him.

      1825 June 22, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in Tales of the Crusaders. […], volume IV (The Talisman), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 66

2. Senses relating to dealing with or negotiating.
   1. obsoletetransitiveTo act towards or deal with (someone or something) in a specified manner; to handle, to treat.

      Vncle, you ſay the Queene is at your houſe, / For Gods ſake fairely let her be intreated.

      1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], signature [E4], verso

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      And here I ſpeake of the generation, wherby they doo engender, and not of that, wherby they are engendred, becauſe it ſhuld be to long to intreate, howe the chyldren of lyght are ingendred, and how they come in at the doore: and howe the children of the world be engendred, and come in an other way.

      1536 June 19 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), Hugh Latimer, translated by [anonymous], The Sermon that the Reuerende Father in Christ, Hugh Latimer, Byshop of Worcester, Made to the Clergie, in the Cõuocatiõ, before the Parlyament Began, the 9. Day of June, the .28. Yere of the Reigne of Our Souerayne Lorde Kyng Henry the VIII. […], London: […] Thomas Berthelet, […], published 3 December 1537 (Gregorian calendar), →OCLC, signature C.iii., verso

      Is it not enough that my aunt, her mother [Catherine of Aragon], was evil entreated by the king [Henry VIII] that dead is, but my cousin [Mary I of England] must be worse ordered by councillors now.

      1551 (date written), James Anthony Froude, quoting Nicholas Wotton, “The Execution of the Duke of Somerset”, in History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth, volume V, London: John W[illiam] Parker, and Son, […], published 1860, →OCLC, page 343

      The Lord ſaid, Uerely it ſhall be well with thy remnant, verely I will cauſe the enemie to intreat thee well in the time of euill, and in the time of affliction.

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 15:11, signature Sss, recto, column 1

      Frederick [II, Holy Roman Emperor] before he ratified any thing by oath, ſent to have the Popes [Innocent IV's] approbation: vvho ill entreated and impriſoned his meſſengers, denied them audience, and contemptuouſly tore the Emperors letters.

      1639, Thomas Fuller, “Frederick Recovereth All Palestine and Jerusalem without Expense of Time or Bloud”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book III, page 163

      They will be scourged; and I, whom they have comforted and kindly entreated, must look on and see the great wrong done; it is strange, so strange! that I, the very source of power in this broad realm, am helpless to protect them.

      1881, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “In Prison”, in The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages, Montreal, Que.: Dawson Brothers, →OCLC, page 217

   2. obsoletetransitiveTo discuss or negotiate (something); also, to discuss or negotiate with (someone).

      [T]hey entreated the ſayd companyons and offred them golde⸝ and ſyluer⸝ and paſſage: […]

      1523 February 7 (Gregorian calendar), Johan Froyssart [i.e., Jean Froissart], “How the Peace was Made that the Erle of Mountfort shude Abyde Duke of Bretayne⸝ […]”, in Here Begynneth the First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart: Of the Cronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne⸝ Portyngale⸝ Scotlande⸝ Bretayne⸝ Flañders: And Other Places Adioynynge. […], 1st volume, London: […] Richarde Pynson⸝ […], →OCLC; reprinted as The First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart of the Chronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne (The English Experience […]; no. 257), Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, 1970, →ISBN, folio cxxv, verso, column 2

   3. obsoletereflexivetransitiveTo occupy oneself with (something).

      The Gardin of Proſerpina […] ſhe often vſd from open heat / Her ſelfe to ſhroud, and pleaſures to entreat.

      1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 53, page 286

   4. intransitiveobsoleteSometimes followed by of or upon: to give an account or description of a matter; to deal with.

      [O]f all theſe ſeuerally I intend to intreate in the folovving chapters.

      1610, Gervase Markham, “Of Outward Sorrances what They are, and of Certaine Generall Obseruations in the Cure of Them”, in Markhams Maister-peece. Or, What doth a Horse-man Lacke. Containing All Possible Knowledge whatsoeuer which doth Belong to any Smith, Farrier, or Horse-leech, Touching the Curing of All Manner of Diseases or Sorrances in Horses; […], London: […] Nicholas Okes, and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson, […], →OCLC, 2nd book (Containing All Cures Chyrurgicall, […]), page 228

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      [T]he moſt admirable myſtery of Nature, in my mind, is the turning of yron touched vvith the loadſtone, tovvard the North-pole, of vvhich I ſhall have farther occaſion to intreate, […]

      1627, G[eorge] H[akewill], “Touching the Pretended Decay of the Heauenly Bodies”, in An Apologie of the Power and Prouidence of God in the Gouernment of the World. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Iohn Lichfield and William Turner, […], →OCLC, book II, section 1 (First of Their Working vpon this Inferiour World), page 66

      [Y]ou ſhould diigently vveigh and conſider the matter vvhereof Paul intreateth: for he intreateth of the vvord of God, vvhich can never be maginified enough.

      1791, “The Second Chapter”, in [anonymous], transl., Dr. Martin Luther’s Commentary upon St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians: […], Wigan, Manchester: […] William Bancks, →OCLC, page 57

   5. intransitiveobsoleteOften followed by about, for, or of: to discuss or negotiate, especially in order to reach a settlement.

      And this mariage agreed vpon (which ſemeth more likely to be intreated of then cõcluded [i.e., than concluded].

      1569, Richard Grafton, “Edwarde the Fourth”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume II, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 664

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      [B]ytwene theſe parties entreated for a peace⸝ the archbyſhoppe of Senus⸝ the byſſhoppe of Auſſer⸝ the byſſhoppe of Beaumoys⸝ the lorde of Momorency⸝ the lorde of Fyenes⸝ and the lorde of ſaynt Uenant.

      1523 February 7 (Gregorian calendar), Johan Froyssart [i.e., Jean Froissart], “Howe Darys was Besieged by the Duke of Normandy Regent of Fraunce”, in Here Begynneth the First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart: Of the Cronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne⸝ Portyngale⸝ Scotlande⸝ Bretayne⸝ Flañders: And Other Places Adioynynge. […], 1st volume, London: […] Richarde Pynson⸝ […], →OCLC; reprinted as The First Volum of Sir Johan Froyssart of the Chronycles of Englande⸝ Fraunce⸝ Spayne (The English Experience […]; no. 257), Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, 1970, →ISBN, folio lxxxx, recto, column 1

      [W]hiles yͤ bones of Marcello were a brẽning [brenning, i.e., burning], ſhe was entreting to mary an other huſbãd [husband], […]

      1531 March 20 (date written; Gregorian calendar), [Antonio de Guevara], “A Letter Sente fro Marke the Emperour to Labinia a Romayn Widow for to Comfort Her for the Deth of Her Husbande. The .V. Letter.”, in John Bourcher knyghte Lord Barners [i.e., John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners], transl., The Golden Boke of Marcus Aurelius Emperour and Eloquent Oratour, London: […] Thomæ Bertheleti […], published 1535, →OCLC, folio 118, recto

      Ile ſend ſome holy Biſhop to intreat: / For God forbid, ſo many ſimple ſoules / Should periſh by the Svvord.

      1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], page 140, column 1

      But with Alexander they were well pleaſed, becauſe hee was the firſt that entreated of peace with them, and they were confederate with him alwayes.

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Maccabees 10:47, signature [Zzzz6], recto, column 2

      [C]hiefs and warriors of the Senecas, the Delawares, and the Shawnees, came to light the council-fire, to smoke the calumet, and to entreat for peace.

      1852, George Bancroft, “How America Received the Plan of a Stamp Tax—[George] Grenville’s Administration Continued. April–December, 1764.”, in History of the United States, from the Discovery of the American Continent, volume V (The American Revolution. Epoch Second. […]), Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, →OCLC, page 221

plural entreats

1. obsoleteSynonym of entreaty (“an act of asking earnestly or begging for something”); an appeal, a plea.

   […] I began a little chat with my fair companion, who remained standing, notwithstanding my repeated entreates that she would be seated.

   1817 March, Censor [pseudonym], “The Gossiper, No. XXV”, in The Ladies’ Monthly Museum, volume V, London: [Vernor & Hood?], →OCLC, page 124

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   Let my entreats of Love prevail ſo far, / VVhen for your happineſſe they ſpoken are: / Be not a Captive to the vvorld, but be / One unto Heav'n, and that is to be free.

   1661, S[amuel] P[ordage], [John Pordage?], “The Second Part”, in Mundorum Explicatio: Or, The Explanation of an Hieroglyphical Figure: Wherein are Couched the Myasteries of the External, Internal, and Eternal Worlds, […], London: […] T. R. for Lodowick Lloyd, […], page 149

   In the Muslim world, the most compelling and decisive books are those full of confessions written on the flesh of victims, and the most earnest prayers are the entreats for mercy screamed in pain and anguish at the tormentors and flesh and thought.

   2006, Khaled Abou El Fadl, The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books, Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 236

   Synonyms: entreaty