Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eys-
Proto-Indo-European *-sḱéti
Proto-Indo-European *h₂isḱéti
Proto-Germanic *iskaną
Proto-Germanic *aiskaz
Proto-West Germanic *aisk
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-West Germanic *-ōn
Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn
Old English āscian
Middle English asken
English ask
From Middle English asken, axen, from Old English āscian, from Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eys- (“to wish; request”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian aaskje (“to ask, demand, require”), West Frisian easkje (“to ask, demand, require”), Dutch eisen (“to demand, require”), German heischen (“to ask, request, implore”), Russian иска́ть (iskátʹ), Sanskrit इच्छति (iccháti) (whence Hindi ईछना (īchnā).
Meanings
(informal) An act or instance of asking.
That really does not seem much of an ask. 2022 December 14, Christian Wolmar, “No Marston Vale line trains... and no one in charge seems to 'give a damn'”, in RAIL, number 972, page 46:
To ask for a gift is a privilege, a wonderful expression of commitment to and ownership of the organization. Getting a yes to an ask can be a rush, but asking for the gift can and should be just as rewarding. 2005, Laura Fredricks, The ask:
(informal) Something asked or asked for.
I know this is a big ask, but …
Communication researchers call this the foot-in-the-door syndrome. Essentially it's based on the observation that people who respond positively to a small “ask” are more likely to respond to a bigger “ask” later on. 2008, Doug Fields, Duffy Robbins, Speaking to Teenagers:
(informal) An asking price.
The buy prices are a bit higher than the sell prices; the difference between the buy/sell is called bid/ask spread. If you are selling a stock, you’ll get the bid price; if you are buying a stock, you’ll get the ask price. 2018, David Borman, Day Trading 101, page 12:
(Internet, informal) A message sent to a blog on social networking platform Tumblr, which can be publicly posted and replied to by the recipient.
Answering 'asks' like this is one common way that Tumblr bloggers interact with their followers, so it is in the act of publicly answering these asks that I examine community building practices. 2017, Abigail Oakley, “Supporting one another: Nonbinary community building on Tumblr”, in Isabel K. Düsterhöft, Paul G. Nixon, editors, Sex in the Digital Age, unnumbered page:
Once the number of unanswered Asks in the inbox was over eight thousand, despite us deleting everything accumulated in the inbox once a year. 2020, Lee Brown, “Behind the Scenes of a Popular Trans Youth Resources Tumblr”, in Alexander Cho, Allison McCracken, Indira N. Hoch, Louisa Stein, editors, A Tumblr Book: Platforms and Cultures, page 265:
The following example from Black Mental Health illustrates an ask from an anonymous follower seeking social support: […] 2018, Lynette Kvasny, Fay Cobb Payton, “African American Youth Tumbling Toward Mental Health Support-Seeking and Positive Academic Outcomes”, in Amanda Ochsner, William G. Tierney, Zoë B. Corwin, editors, Diversifying Digital Learning: Online Literacy and Educational Opportunity, page 168:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eys-
Proto-Indo-European *-sḱéti
Proto-Indo-European *h₂isḱéti
Proto-Germanic *iskaną
Proto-Germanic *aiskaz
Proto-West Germanic *aisk
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti
Proto-Germanic *-ōną
Proto-West Germanic *-ōn
Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn
Old English āscian
Middle English asken
English ask
From Middle English asken, axen, from Old English āscian, from Proto-West Germanic *aiskōn, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eys- (“to wish; request”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian aaskje (“to ask, demand, require”), West Frisian easkje (“to ask, demand, require”), Dutch eisen (“to demand, require”), German heischen (“to ask, request, implore”), Russian иска́ть (iskátʹ), Sanskrit इच्छति (iccháti) (whence Hindi ईछना (īchnā).
Meanings
(intransitive, transitive) To request or petition. ▸ To request (information, or an answer to a question).
Everyone always asks what my advice is, and my advice is don’t overintellectualize your art. 2022 October 14, Justin Curto, “The 1975’s Matty Healy Prefers Writing Lyrics He’s Afraid Of”, in Vulture, archived from the original on 18 Oct 2022:
I asked her age.
I didn't know the answer so I asked.
(ditransitive, transitive) To request or petition. ▸ To request or enquire of (a person).
I’m going to ask this lady (for) directions.
Ask him that he tell her —No need to, she'll already know by know.
If you want to know, ask her.
I asked her (for) her age.
(transitive, usually, with 'for' or intransitive) To request or petition. ▸ To request (an item or service) (see also ask for).
Ask, and it shall be given you. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 7:7:
Services during Yom Kippur are held continuously through the day and include readings from the Torah and the reciting of prayers expressing regret or asking for forgiveness. 2019 October 8, Christina Maxouris and Doug Criss, “Everything you wanted to know about Yom Kippur”, in CNN:
to ask for help with homework
to ask for a second helping at dinner
to ask a favour
If you want help, you only have to ask.
(transitive) To request or petition. ▸ To request (someone to do something).
Emma asked Jim to close his eyes.
To request or petition. ▸ To request permission (to do something).
She asked to see the doctor.
Did you ask to use the car?
To put forward (a question) to be answered.
to ask a question
He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 9:21:
to ask a riddle
To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
But in any Exigence of State, like that they are now pressed with, it certainly asks a much longer time to conduct any Design, for the Good of the Common-wealth, to its Maturity and Perfection. 1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
What price are you asking for the house?
It’s asking a lot of this old car to make it all the way up to Scotland.
To invite.
Don’t ask them to the wedding.
(figuratively, qualifier:chiefly continuous aspect) To indirectly encourage or make more likely (an undesirable outcome).
Walking around with such an expensive watch is asking to be mugged.
To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.
(figuratively) To take (a person's situation) as an example.
Even when the damage isn't that clear cut, the intangible burdens of a bad image can add up. Just ask Dow Chemical. 1990 April 26, Paul Wiseman, “Dark days”, in USA Today:
jam aax (request an answer) · bh माँगल (make a request) · hu érdeklődik (request an answer) · ru зада́ть (request an answer) · it interrogare (request an answer) · ja 聞く (request an answer) · ar سال (request an answer) · haw ui (make a request) · da spørge (request an answer) · is spyrja (request an answer) · as সোধা (request an answer) · rm dumandar (request an answer) · hrx frohe (request an answer) · gd iarr (make a request) · cu въпрашати (request an answer) · ru проси́ть (make a request) · mt staqsa (request an answer) · haw ui (request an answer) · ka კითხვა (request an answer) · scn dumannari (request an answer) · as খোজা (make a request) · cic asilhha (request an answer) · kl aperivoq (request an answer) · ckb داوا کردن (request an answer) · scn spiari (request an answer) · gug jerure (make a request) · vi cầu xin (make a request) · cy holi (make a request) · lv jautāt (request an answer) · fy easkje (request an answer) · stq fräigje (request an answer) · yo béèrè (request an answer) · chr ᎠᏔᏲᎯᎭ (make a request) · ko 부탁하다 (make a request) · frr froage (request an answer) · xh ukubuza (request an answer) · uk попроси́ти (make a request) · shi sal (request an answer) · uz soʻramoq (request an answer) · nl vragen (request an answer) · el παρακαλώ (make a request) · osx fragon (request an answer) · pt perguntar (request an answer) · ofs āskia (request an answer) · oc demandar (make a request) · hu megkérdez (request an answer) · my တိုင် (make a request) · eu galdetu (request an answer) · ru задава́ть (request an answer) · eo peti (make a request) · ru попроси́ть (make a request) · fr poser une question (request an answer) · fur domandâ (make a request) · kaw taña (request an answer) · io demandar (make a request) · it chiedere (make a request) · bg пи́там (request an answer) · sq pyet (request an answer) · zu cela (request an answer) · izh kyssyä (request an answer) · xag 𐔱𐔴𐕚𐔴𐕚𐕒𐕡𐕎 (make a request) · kmr dawa kirin (make a request) · uk запита́ти (request an answer) · bh पूछल (request an answer) · lv pieprasīt (make a request) · tg пурсидан (request an answer) · la scīscō (request an answer) · ta கேள் (make a request) · mn асуух (request an answer) · my မေး (request an answer) · la precor (make a request) · acm سَأَلْ (request an answer) · co dumandà (request an answer) · hy հարցնել (request an answer) · ar سأل (request an answer) · os афӕрсын (request an answer) · goh bitten (make a request) · ro invita (make a request) · ug سورىماق (request an answer) · gd faighnich (request an answer) · be пыта́ць (request an answer) · ko 질문하다 (request an answer) · tk soramak (request an answer) · koi юавны (request an answer) · ko 청하다 (make a request) · koi корны (make a request) · ny -funsa (request an answer) · gl preguntar (request an answer) · sa पृच्छति (make a request) · ar طَلَبَ (make a request) · af vra (request an answer) · non spyrja (request an answer) · te అడుగు (request an answer) · sk žiadať (make a request) · sc percontare (request an answer) · sv spörja (request an answer) · zu ncenga (request an answer) · la scītor (request an answer) · uz iltimos qilmoq (make a request) · cs ptát se (request an answer) · sco speir (request an answer) · grc ἐρωτάω (request an answer) · de stellen (request an answer) · sh пи̏тати (request an answer) · zu buza (make a request) · ota صورمق (make a request) · enm axen (request an answer) · sah ыйыт (request an answer) · la quaerō (request an answer) · ta வேண்டு (make a request) · jam ax (request an answer) · zyp hei (request an answer) · my ပန် (make a request) · et küsima (request an answer) · ga iarr (request an answer) · jje 듣다 (request an answer) · sv ställa (en fråga) (request an answer) · ta கேள் (request an answer) · ota صورمق (request an answer) · bg мо́ля (make a request) · frr fraagi (request an answer) · lb froen (request an answer) · pl pytać (request an answer) · zh 請求 /请求 (make a request) · nds frogen (request an answer) · kmr daxwaz kirin (make a request) · ar سَأَلَ (make a request) · fr demander (make a request) · frr freege (request an answer) · nup gbíngàn (request an answer) · mk праша (request an answer) · ce деха (request an answer) · la rogō (make a request) · km សួរ (request an answer) · brc fragi (request an answer) · de fragen (request an answer) · ro cere (make a request) · sh мо̀лити (make a request) · he שָׁאַל (make a request) · el ζητώ (make a request) · cs žádat (make a request) · nrf d'mander (request an answer) · zu nxusa (make a request) · vec domandar (make a request) · gug porandu (request an answer) · kn ಕೇಳು (request an answer) · sl prositi (make a request) · ka ითხოვს (make a request) · pap pidi (make a request) · ar سقصى (request an answer) · es preguntar (request an answer) · ja 尋ねる (request an answer) · el ρωτώ (request an answer) · ckb پرسین (make a request) · yai пурсак (request an answer) · se jearrat (request an answer) · ro ruga (make a request) · th ถาม (request an answer) · pga asalu (request an answer) · ro întreba (request an answer) · lo ຂໍ (make a request) · gyn aks (request an answer) · id tanya (request an answer) · dlm precur (make a request) · no be om (make a request) · gmh vrâgen (request an answer) · ga ceistigh (request an answer) · hu kérdez (request an answer) · vec dimandar (request an answer) · mn гуйх (make a request) · ug سوراش (make a request) · scn addumannari (request an answer) · ckb پرسین (request an answer) · haw noi (make a request) · ar سول (request an answer) · lv lūgt (make a request) · ltg praseit (request an answer) · fo spyrja (request an answer) · non fregna (request an answer) · zu buza (request an answer) · mww noog (request an answer) · scn dimannari (request an answer) · nap dimannà (request an answer) · hi पूछना (request an answer) · kmr xwestin (make a request) · sc apiliare (make a request) · izh kyssyä (make a request) · tg дархост кардан (make a request) · cy gofyn (request an answer) · bn বলা (make a request) · txb pärk- (request an answer) · sga imm·comairc (request an answer) · ar سَأَلَ (request an answer) · grc ἐρεείνω (request an answer) · lt paklausti (request an answer) · az soruşmaq (request an answer) · uga 𐎌𐎀𐎍 (make a request) · sh pȉtati (request an answer) · la scīscitor (request an answer) · bn জানতে চাওয়া (request an answer) · enm asken (request an answer) · ht mande (request an answer) · cv ыйт (request an answer) · orv пꙑтати (request an answer) · km សុំ (request an answer) · tzm ⵙⵇⵙⴰ (request an answer) · hi पूछना (make a request) · lo ຖາມ (request an answer) · mk моли (make a request) · fa سؤال کردن (request an answer) · mt saqsa (request an answer) · pl poprosić (make a request) · ga pléigh (make a request) · sa पृच्छति (request an answer) · ur مانگنا (make a request) · mfe dimande (request an answer) · hu kérdést tesz fel (request an answer) · ur پوچھنا (request an answer) · eo demandi (request an answer) · sw kuuliza (request an answer) · nl vragen (make a request) · az diləmək (make a request) · la rogō (request an answer) · cic ittimasilhha (request an answer) · it domandare (request an answer) · fur domandâ (request an answer) · haw nīnau (request an answer) · cu пꙑтати (request an answer) · lt prašyti (make a request) · es requerir (make a request) · zu ncenga (make a request) · it chiedere (request an answer) · pl zapytać (request an answer) · ka იკითხავს (request an answer) · jv takon (request an answer) · lmo domandà (request an answer) · ja 頼む (make a request) · yo bèèrè (request an answer) · ta வினவு (request an answer) · kmr pirs kirinpirsiyar kirin (request an answer) · zu nxusa (request an answer) · ne सोध्नु (request an answer) · fr demander (request an answer) · rup tser (request an answer) · sv be om (make a request) · zh 詢問 /询问 (request an answer) · aii ܒܲܩܸܪ (request an answer) · shn ထၢမ် (request an answer) · za cam (request an answer) · am መጠየቅ (request an answer) · ga fiafraigh (request an answer) · cy ceisio (request an answer) · mk прашува (request an answer) · mfe demande (request an answer) · hu kér (make a request) · aii ܫܵܐܹܠ (make a request) · gl pedir (make a request) · zh 問 /问 (request an answer) · yue 問 /问 (request an answer) · yi בעטן (make a request) · be папрасі́ць (make a request) · la quaerō (make a request) · et paluma (make a request) · udm курыны (make a request) · cic ittimasilhha (make a request) · su suhun (make a request) · cic imasilhha (make a request) · kok निम्गुंचे (request an answer) · vi hỏi (request an answer) · uk пита́ти (request an answer) · sga íarmi·foich (request an answer) · ofs fregia (request an answer) · chr ᎠᏓᏛᏛᎲᏍᎦ (request an answer) · udm юаны (request an answer) · ga fiosraigh (request an answer) · kk сұрау (request an answer) · ia demandar (request an answer) · khb ᦏᦱᧄ (request an answer) · akl kutana (request an answer) · grc αἰτέω (make a request) · fi kysyä (request an answer) · fa درخواستن (make a request) · xh ukucela (make a request) · sk pýtať sa (request an answer) · he בִּקֵּשׁ (make a request) · ru спроси́ть (request an answer) · aii ܛܵܠܹܒ (make a request) · cy holi (request an answer) · ca demanar (make a request) · eu eskatu (make a request) · bn চাওয়া (make a request) · ta கோரு (make a request) · ba һорау (request an answer) · bg и́скам (make a request) · ca preguntar (request an answer) · goh frâhên (request an answer) · fy freegje (request an answer) · pt solicitar (make a request) · cic asilhlha (make a request) · odt fragon (request an answer) · ang friġnan (request an answer) · uga 𐎌𐎀𐎍 (request an answer) · km សួរ (make a request) · nrf d'mander (make a request) · lt atsiklausti (request an answer) · got 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌽 (request an answer) · kk өтіну (make a request) · cy ceisio (make a request) · bn প্রশ্ন করা (request an answer) · sk prosiť (make a request) · vec dimandar (make a request) · pt pedir (make a request) · ru спра́шивать (request an answer) · mnc ᡶᠣᠨᠵᡳᠮᠪᡳ (request an answer) · om gaafachuu (request an answer) · pl prosić (make a request) · grc ἐξαιτέω (make a request) · ko 묻다 (request an answer) · ar طلب (make a request) · nn spørje (request an answer) · lo ຈັງ (make a request) · th วาน (make a request) · de bitten (make a request) · az arzu etmək (make a request) · km សុំ (make a request) · ka სთხოვს (make a request) · qu tapui (request an answer) · be спыта́ць (request an answer) · sh пи̏тати (make a request) · ky суроо (request an answer) · az tələb etmək (make a request) · th ขอ (make a request) · zu cela (make a request) · dsb pšosyś (make a request) · sv fråga (request an answer) · sco speir (make a request) · frr frååge (request an answer) · es preduntar (request an answer) · hy խնդրել (make a request) · kmr pirsîn (request an answer) · ga iarr (make a request) · rue просити ся (request an answer) · lv prasīt (make a request) · fi pyytää (make a request) · ltg lyugt (request an answer) · es pedir (make a request) · scn addimannari (request an answer) · ko 여쭈다 (request an answer) · sw kuomba (make a request) · ckb داواکردن (make a request) · bn জিজ্ঞাসা করা (request an answer) · sh pȉtati (make a request) · oc demandar (request an answer) · da bede (make a request) · lt klausti (request an answer) · qu tapuy (request an answer) · ja 質問する (request an answer) · pt requerer (make a request) · grc αἰτίζω (make a request) · ast entrugar (request an answer) · njo-jgl asüngdang (request an answer) · hu megkér (make a request) · cic imasilhha (request an answer) · tk haýyş etmek (make a request) · nb spørre (request an answer) · qu mañai (make a request) · kn ಕೇಳು (make a request) · tr dilemek (make a request) · ca demanar (request an answer) · br goulenn (request an answer) · io questionar (request an answer) · jje 여쭈다 (request an answer) · wa dimander (request an answer) · it domandare (make a request) · frr fraage (request an answer) · tl humingi (make a request) · uk проси́ти (make a request) · is biðja (make a request) · ha tambaya (request an answer) · yi פֿרעגן (request an answer) · ang biddan (make a request) · az xahiş etmək (make a request) · zh 請 /请 (make a request) · te అడుగు (make a request) · id minta (make a request) · tl magtanong (request an answer) · tr sormak (request an answer) · ja 伺う (request an answer) · sh mòliti (make a request) · ar سأل (request an answer) · sco frain (request an answer) · la scito (request an answer) · he שָׁאַל (request an answer) · sco frain (make a request) · cy gofyn (make a request) · th ถามหา (request an answer) · sl vprašati (request an answer) · lb bieden (make a request) · ast preguntar (request an answer) · tl hingiin (make a request) · nod ᨳᩣ᩠ᨾ (request an answer) · shi sqsa (request an answer) · fa پرسیدن (request an answer) · be прасі́ць (make a request) · sc dimandhare (request an answer) · kaw takwan (request an answer) · cic asilhlha (request an answer) · ang āscian (request an answer) · is spyrja (make a request) · cic asilhha (make a request) · pt requisitar (make a request) · grc ἠρόμην (request an answer) · cs zeptat se (request an answer) · vec domandar (request an answer) · bni luka (request an answer) · et pärima (request an answer) · cs prosit (make a request) · jam aks (request an answer) · to kole (request an answer) · hi माँगना (make a request) · iso nọ (request an answer) · ang biddan (request an answer) · aii ܫܵܐܹܠ (request an answer) · sq lut (make a request)
From Middle English aske, arske, ascre, from Old English āþexe (“lizard, newt”), from Proto-West Germanic *agiþahsijā (“lizard”), a compound of *agiz (“snake, lizard”) + *þahsuz (“badger”). Cognate of German Echse (“lizard”).
Meanings
(Scotland, also, informal) An eft; newt.
He looked at the beast. It was not an eel. It was very like an ask. 1876, S. Smiles, Scottish Naturalist:
(informal) A lizard.
We hear of Adder dens, but detailed accounts of the discovery of one are very rare. Service (1902) records that a peatman, when levelling on an estate by the Solway, found in a hole in the ground, some 8 inches below the surface, 40 adders, 10 toads and a large number of asks (lizards). 1951, Malcolm Arthur Smith, The British Amphibians & Reptiles, page 258: