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Added 3 October 2026

entreat

/ɪnˈtɹiːt/ verb

In Latin: obsecrō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about entreat at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Senses relating to asking or pleading. To ask earnestly or beg for (something, such as a benefit or favour).
To ask earnestly or beg for (something, such as a benefit or favour).
To earnestly ask or beg (someone); to beseech, to implore.

noun

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

Origin

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 (somethi.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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