entreat

/ɪnˈtɹiːt/

Etymology

The verb is derived from Late Middle English entreten (“to deal with (someone) in a specified way; to concern oneself with (something); to deal with or give an account of (a topic); to engage in negotiation; to intercede for (someone); to plead with (someone)”), from Anglo-Norman entraiter, entretier (“to concern oneself with (something); to deal with (someone) in a specified manner; to have a conversation with (someone); to negotiate (with someone, or about something)”), Middle French entraiter, entraictier, and Old French entraictier (“to have a conversation with (someone); to concern oneself with (something)”), from en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’) + traiter (“to be concerned with (something); to treat (someone) in a specified way”) (from Latin tractāre, the present active infinitive of

entreat means synonym of entreaty (“an act of asking earnestly or begging for something”); an appeal, a plea. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 74 out of 100.

Why this word is great

ENTREAT — [Verb] To ask someone earnestly or beseechingly for something; to plead. From Middle English entreten, from Anglo-Norman entraiter, from Old French entraictier, from en- ("in, into") + traiter ("to treat, handle"), from Latin tractāre ("to handle, manage"). Unlike implore, which quivers with raw, desperate need, or request, which remains a neutral, administrative transaction, to entreat is to frame a plea within the bounds of respect—a humble petition that acknowledges the power of the one petitioned. It is the hand outstretched, palm up, in the dim confessional; the quiet, persistent knocking at a heavy oak door long after dark; the diplomat's carefully worded dispatch for clemency—the grammar of persuasion employed when one has only the currency of earnestness to spend, acknowledging that what is sought is not a right, but a gift withheld.

noun

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

verb

Senses relating to asking or pleading.; To ask earnestly or beg for (something, such as a benefit or favour).“If you be ſhe, I doe intreat your patience / To heare me ſpeake the meſſage I am ſent on.”
Senses relating to asking or pleading.; To earnestly ask or beg (someone); to beseech, to implore.“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: […]”
Senses relating to asking or pleading.; To 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, […]”
Senses relating to asking or pleading.; Often followed by for: to ask earnestly or to beg for a benefit, favour, etc.; to appeal, to plead.“[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: […]”
Senses relating to asking or pleading.; To make a petition or request on behalf of someone; to intercede, to plead.“Wil ye accepte yͤ perſonne of God, and intreate for him?”
Senses relating to dealing with or negotiating.; To act towards or deal with (someone or something) in a specified manner; to handle, to treat.“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.”