Dictionary entry

Bespeak

Webster's Dictionary 1913

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.

Concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favor.

Sir W. Scott.

2. To show beforehand; to foretell; to indicate.

bespoke dangers... in order to scare the allies.

Swift.

3. To betoken; to show; to indicate by external marks or appearances.

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.

4. To speak to; to address.

He thus the queen bespoke.

Dryden.