Inherited from Middle English beggen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English *becgian, *bedcian, syncopated forms of bedecian (“to beg”), itself of obscure origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *bedukōn, a frequentative verb derived from Proto-West Germanic *bedu (“plea, petition, prayer”, whence English bead). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *bedagō (“petitioner, requester, beggar”), an agent noun from the same source. Compare North Frisian bēdagi (“to pray”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (bidagwa, “beggar”). All ultimately from the root of English bid, which see for more. An alternative theory considers the verb a backformation from beggar and derives the latter from Old French begart (“kind of lay brother”).
Meanings
The act of begging; an imploring request.
“Lord,” I prayed, “it's a long time since I came to You for anything besides a quick beg for help. And it seems every time I come to You I'm asking something bigger, more impossible. But I'm here again. […] 2008, Cathy Gohlke, William Henry is a Fine Name/I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires Set:
(UK, derogatory, slang) A pretentious, attention-seeking, or eccentric person.
Girls told me about not wanting to be seen by boys as "too much", "too loud", "weird", "annoying", a "pick me", or "a beg" (someone looking for attention). They told me how boys can be loud and funny, but that girls had better not. 2026 April 13, Catherine Carr, "The surprising reality of how teenage girls still define themselves" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62je1g000eo (BBC News)
Inherited from Middle English beggen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English *becgian, *bedcian, syncopated forms of bedecian (“to beg”), itself of obscure origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *bedukōn, a frequentative verb derived from Proto-West Germanic *bedu (“plea, petition, prayer”, whence English bead). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *bedagō (“petitioner, requester, beggar”), an agent noun from the same source. Compare North Frisian bēdagi (“to pray”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (bidagwa, “beggar”). All ultimately from the root of English bid, which see for more. An alternative theory considers the verb a backformation from beggar and derives the latter from Old French begart (“kind of lay brother”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.
He begged on the street corner from passers-by.
(transitive) To plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreat.
you do beg your good will in this case. c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to cause offence.
[Joseph] begged the body of Jesus. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 27:58:
He begged her to go to the prom with him.
But that same day came Sam Tewkesbury to the Why Not? about nightfall, and begged a glass of rum, being, as he said, 'all of a shake' [...] [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
(transitive) To unwillingly provoke a negative, often violent, reaction.
The way you keep eating raw meat, you're just begging to get tapeworms.
(intransitive, transitive) To obviously lack or be in need of something.
The colors in this cell are as dull as its architects must have been. An endless expanse of drab-green textured walls, contrasting with the gray concrete floor. It begs redecoration. 1985 April 13, Philip Brasfield, “Echoes Inside of What's Outside”, in Gay Community News, page 4:
A captivating novel that just begs for a movie adaptation
(transitive) In the phrase beg the question: to assume.
(proscribed, transitive) In the phrase beg the question: to raise (a question).
(obsolete, transitive) To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for.
Else some will beg thee, in the court of wards. a. 1612, John Harington, Epigrams:
it mendicare (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · crh yalvarmaq (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ta கெஞ்சு (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · nl smeken (to plead with someone for help) · id mengemis (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ml തെണ്ടുക (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · pl błagać (to plead with someone for help) · cmn 央求 (to plead with someone for help) · ml യാചിക്കുക (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · pt implorar (to plead with someone for help) · hu könyörög (to plead with someone for help) · nmn ǁgàã (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · uk проси́ти (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · nmn ǁgàã (to plead with someone for help) · za ro (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · uk блага́ти (to plead with someone for help) · mi mīnono (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ia mendicar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · be прасі́ць (to plead with someone for help) · el ικετεύω (to plead with someone for help) · be жабрава́ць (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · pt mendigar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · es deprecar (to plead with someone for help) · hy մուրալ (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · uz тиланмоқ (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · sh zamòliti (to plead with someone for help) · hy աղաչել (to plead with someone for help) · it pregare (to plead with someone for help) · sh замо̀лити (to plead with someone for help) · te యాచించు (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · de anflehen (to plead with someone for help) · he הִתְחַנֵּן (to plead with someone for help) · vi khẩn cầu (to plead with someone for help) · gl pedichar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · nl bedelen (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fi anoa (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · gl pregar (to plead with someone for help) · be малі́ць (to plead with someone for help) · af bedel (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · th ขอทาน (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · sv tigga (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · grc ἱκετεύω (to plead with someone for help) · bg умоля́вам (to plead with someone for help) · sv bönfalla (to plead with someone for help) · bg мо́ля (to plead with someone for help) · fr mendier (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · es suplicar (to plead with someone for help) · ru выпра́шивать (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · be блага́ць (to plead with someone for help) · is betla (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · mk просјачи (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · it implorare (to plead with someone for help) · fi anoa (to plead with someone for help) · cmn 求 (to plead with someone for help) · vo lubegön (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · bg изпро́ся (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · pl żebrać (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cy begio (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ca pidolar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · gl ladar (to plead with someone for help) · th ขอร้อง (to plead with someone for help) · gl questar (to plead with someone for help) · sl beračiti (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · es pordiosear (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · tr dilenmek (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · enm beggen (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · uk проси́ти (to plead with someone for help) · de betteln (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ca suplicar (to plead with someone for help) · ee ɖekuku (to plead with someone for help) · tl magpalimos (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · oc pregar (to plead with someone for help) · ta கெஞ்சு (to plead with someone for help) · ja 請う (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ja 頼む (to plead with someone for help) · ar تَسَوَّلَ (to plead with someone for help) · fur cirî (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fi kärttää (to plead with someone for help) · sl prosjačiti (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · vi ăn xin (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ru попроша́йничать (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · be прасі́ць (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · mi pikoni (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · es mendigar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · se ánuhit (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · lmo pregà (to plead with someone for help) · da bønfalde (to plead with someone for help) · ko 구걸하다 (to plead with someone for help) · pt suplicar (to plead with someone for help) · grc δέω (to plead with someone for help) · it elemosinare (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fi kerjätä (to plead with someone for help) · uk же́брати (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fi kärttää (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ee ɖekuku (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · sh pròsiti (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · el επαιτώ (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · hu kéreget (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ko 애원하다 (to plead with someone for help) · gl pianchar (to plead with someone for help) · fo bidda (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · sk žobrať (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cy deisyf (to plead with someone for help) · ar رَجَا (to plead with someone for help) · afb طر (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · be умо́льваць (to plead with someone for help) · sh prosjáčiti (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ru побира́ться (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · la obsecrō (to plead with someone for help) · gl perdouxer (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · io suplikar (to plead with someone for help) · fr quêter (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · tt соранырга (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · hu koldul (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · he קיבץ נדבות (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · se gearjidit (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · sh про̀сити (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fi anella (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · vo begön (to plead with someone for help) · sh mòliti (to plead with someone for help) · km សុំទាន (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · mk преколнува (to plead with someone for help) · ko 간청하다 (to plead with someone for help) · gl mendicar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fr implorer (to plead with someone for help) · ru кля́нчить (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ru проси́ть (to plead with someone for help) · sk prosiť (to plead with someone for help) · id mohon (to plead with someone for help) · oc mendicar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ka ხვეწნა (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · nn tigga (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ar تَسَوَّلَ (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · nb tigge (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ru умоля́ть (to plead with someone for help) · tr yalvarmak (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · eo almozpeti (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ka მუდარა (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · txb yāsk- (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · la rogo (to plead with someone for help) · bg про́ся (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ro cerși (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · az dilənmək (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cy cardota (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ko 부탁하다 (to plead with someone for help) · ar اِسْتَجْدَى (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · mi pīnono (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · zza ver geyren (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ang biddan (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cs prosit (to plead with someone for help) · frr beđeri (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fr supplier (to plead with someone for help) · la mendīcor (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · sh просја́чити (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · sh мо̀лити (to plead with someone for help) · fi pyytää (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ia implorar (to plead with someone for help) · mk моли (to plead with someone for help) · oc suplicar (to plead with someone for help) · sl prositi (to plead with someone for help) · mi minene (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · el ζητιανεύω (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ro ruga (to plead with someone for help) · acw شَحَت (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ru моли́ть (to plead with someone for help) · fi kerjätä (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · eo petegi (to plead with someone for help) · sv be (to plead with someone for help) · gl medear (to plead with someone for help) · hi भीख माँगना (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cmn 求 (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fr quémander (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · da tigge (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · id minta (to plead with someone for help) · gl aquestar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · be папраша́йнічаць (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · id minta-minta (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cmn 乞討 /乞讨 (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ru попроси́ть (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · enm beggen (to plead with someone for help) · ko 빌다 (to plead with someone for help) · uk моли́ти (to plead with someone for help) · da bede (to plead with someone for help) · gl galloufar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ca pregar (to plead with someone for help) · am ለመነ (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · uk жебра́чити (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · ko 탄원하다 (to plead with someone for help) · ru проси́ть (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fi anella (to plead with someone for help) · ja 拝み倒す (to plead with someone for help) · es rogar (to plead with someone for help) · ca mendicar (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cmn 央求 (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · gl deprecar (to plead with someone for help) · bg изпро́свам (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cs žebrat (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · de bitten (to plead with someone for help) · he ביקש \ בִּקֵּשׁ (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · se átnut (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · fi pyytää (to plead with someone for help) · tt теләнеп сорау (to request the help of someone, often in the form of money) · cy pledio (to plead with someone for help)
bg бег (title — see also bey) · ar بيك (title — see also bey) · ug بەگ (title — see also bey) · az bəy (title — see also bey) · tg бек (title — see also bey) · ota بك (title — see also bey) · fi beg (title — see also bey) · fa بیگ (title — see also bey) · kk бек (title — see also bey) · bn বেগ (title — see also bey) · ur بیگ (title — see also bey) · hu bég (title — see also bey) · hi बेग (title — see also bey) · alt бий (title — see also bey) · tr bey (title — see also bey) · uz bek (title — see also bey) · tt бәк (title — see also bey)
Knit with MC until work measures 3 inches from beg. 2005, DRG Dynamic Resource, Big Book of Knit Hats & Scarves for Everyone, House of White Birches, page 34: