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# entreat

verb (entreat, entreats, entreated, entreating)

«entreat» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

To entreat someone is to beg them earnestly to do something; it is stronger than asking. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/entreat/#m1)

### In the lessons

in tales, a character begs another for help, a favour or mercy; a formal, old-fashioned word

### Examples

- I entreat you to forgive me. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/entreat/#x1)
- The girl entreated her father to let her go. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/entreat/#x2)
- He entreated the king for mercy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/entreat/#x3)
- «Stay with us,» they entreated. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/entreat/#x4)

### Note

nothing for maths

## In Jewish tradition

It is used for earnest prayer to God, as when Moses and Isaac pray for help.

**Interpretation.** Tradition sees these prayers as examples of heartfelt prayer, and the Rabbis noted that Isaac and Rebekah prayed facing each other.

### Examples

- And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. (Torah EXO.8.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/entreat/#x1)
- And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. (Torah EXO.10.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/entreat/#x2)
- And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD let Himself be entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. (Torah GEN.25.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/entreat/#x3)
- And after that God was entreated for the land. (Prophets 2SA.21.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/entreat/#x4)
- So the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. (Prophets 2SA.24.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/entreat/#x5)
- So we fasted and besought our God for this; and He was entreated of us. (Writings EZR.8.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/entreat/#x6)

### Note

nothing for maths

## Early Modern English

### Meaning

to ask someone very earnestly, pleading with them to change their mind or grant something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/E/entreat/#m1)

### Then and now

Today we still say 'entreat someone' for begging, but 'entreated the LORD' is an old way of saying pleaded in prayer, and 'entreat' itself is old-fashioned.

### Examples

- And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. (Torah EXO.8.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/E/entreat/#x1)
- Then Koshchei entreated Prince Ivan, saying,-- (Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/E/entreat/#x2)
- And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. (Torah EXO.10.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/E/entreat/#x3)

### Note

Today: beg or plead.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «entreat» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/entreat/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«entreat» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/entreat.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «entreat» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/entreat/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«entreat» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/entreat.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «entreat» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/E/entreat/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«entreat» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/entreat.html) on Mova free.