1 [reporting verb] ask someone earnestly or humbly for something: [with object]:he begged his fellow passengers for help [with object and infinitive]:she begged me to say nothing to her father [no object]:I must beg of you not to act impulsively
[with object] ask for (something) earnestly or humbly:he begged their forgiveness
[with object] ask formally for (permission to do something):I will now beg leave to make some observations [no object, with infinitive]:I beg to second the motion
2 [no object] ask for food or money as charity:a young woman was begging in the streetthey had to beg for food
[with object] acquire (food or money) from someone by begging:a piece of bread which I begged from a farmer
(of a dog) sit up with the front paws raised expectantly in the hope of a reward.
beg one's bread
archaic live by begging.
beg the question
1(of a fact or action) raise a point that has not been dealt with; invite an obvious question:some definitions of mental illness beg the question of what constitutes normal behaviour
2assume the truth of an argument or proposition to be proved, without arguing it.
