bespeak

/bɪˈspiːk/

Etymology

From Middle English bespeken, bispeken, from Old English *bespecan, besprecan (“to speak about, speak against, accuse of, claim at law, complain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bisprekan (“to discuss, blame”), from Proto-Germanic *bisprekaną (“to speak about, discuss, blame”), equivalent to be- + speak. Cognate with Scots bespeke (“to beseech, speak or negotiate with”), Saterland Frisian bispreke (“to discuss”), West Frisian besprekke (“to discuss”), Dutch bespreken (“to discuss, review, debate”), German besprechen (“to discuss, review, talk about”).

bespeak means A request for a specific performance; a benefit performance, by a patron. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 72 out of 100.

Why this word is great

BESPEAK — [Verb] To order, arrange for, or indicate something in advance. From Middle English bespeken, from Old English besprecan ("to speak about, speak against"), from the prefix be- ("about, against") + sprecan ("to speak"). Unlike “request,” which implies a simple petition, or “indicate,” a passive sign, to bespeak is to engage the future with a definitive utterance, formalizing desire into a claim. It is the suit commissioned weeks before the wedding, the worn hinge of a book that declares countless readings, or the reserved table in a crowded restaurant—a small, articulate act against the entropy of chance, where the present speaks the future into being.

noun

A request for a specific performance; a benefit performance, by a patron.“"By the bye, I've been thinking of bringing out that piece of yours on her bespeak night." "When?" asked Nicholas. "The night of her bespeak. Her benefit night. When her friends and patrons bespeak the play." "Oh! I understand," replied Nicholas.”

verb

To speak about; tell of; relate; discuss.“[They] bespoke dangers […] in order to scare the allies.”
To speak for beforehand; engage in advance; make arrangements for; order or reserve in advance.“concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favour”
To stipulate, solicit, ask for, or request, as in a favour.“to bespeak a calm hearing”
To forbode; foretell.
To speak to; address.“Then ſtaring on her with a ghaſtly Look, / And hollow Voice, he thus the Queen beſpoke.”
To betoken; show; indicate; depict; foretell; suggest; allude to.“This act bespeaks his kindness.”