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Word a Day

bespeak

verb · /bɪˈspik/ · Level 4 · Expert

What does bespeak mean?

bespeak (verb): to betoken; show; indicate; depict; foretell; suggest; allude to.

Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How do you pronounce bespeak?

/bɪˈspik/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.

Where does bespeak come from?

From Middle English bespeken, bispeken, from Old English *bespecan, besprecan (“to speak about, speak against, accuse of, claim at law, complain”).

Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What are synonyms of bespeak?

From Princeton WordNet 3.1.

Test yourself: do you know “bespeak”?

Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.

What does “bespeak” mean?

to put into a clear and definite form of statement or expression

Not quite: that's what formulate means.

to give formal consent to; make officially valid, to sign off on

Not quite: that's what ratify means.

to require (something) as a condition of a contract or agreement

Not quite: that's what stipulate means.

to betoken; show; indicate; depict; foretell; suggest; allude to

Right! That's what “bespeak” means.

Which word is closest in meaning to “bespeak”?

postpone

Not quite: postpone means something else.

coincide

Not quite: coincide means something else.

diminish

Not quite: diminish means something else.

indicate

Right!

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