Forms: (see below). [OE. sprecan (pa. t. spræc, sprǽcon, pa. pple. ʓesprecen), = OFris. spreka (WFris. sprekke, NFris. spreek, spreeg), MDu. (and Du.) spreken, OS. sprekan (MLG. and LG. spreken), OHG. sprehhan (MHG. and G. sprechen); not recorded in Gothic, and absent in older Scand., the obs. Da. sprecke, sprække, Icel. spreka, being adoptions from LG.
The later OE. specan became common in the 11th cent., and forms with r app. did not survive in actual use beyond the middle of the 12th cent. A similar elision of the r appears very rarely in MDu. speken, OHG. spehhan.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. Inf. α. 1 sprecan, spreocan, spræcan; north. spreca, spræca, -spreaca; sprecca, spræcca; 2 sprecon.
c. 825. Vesp. Hymns, iv. Nyllað ʓemoniʓfaldian spreocan.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., 89. [Hie] ne durron … sprecan.
a. 900. in O. E. Texts, 178. Hu meahte ic … her spræcan?
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. x. 19. Huætt ʓe spreca scilo. Ibid., 20. Huæt ʓie sprecca scilon.
c. 1075. O. E. Chron. (Parker MS.), an. 1070. Umbe þæt hi sprecan woldon. Ibid. (a. 1122), (Laud MS.), an. 1114. He wolde sprecon mid him.
β. 1 specan (2 -on), 1–2 specen, 2–5 speken (3 Orm. spekenn), 5 spekyn; 1–2 spæcon, 2 -en, 3 spæ(c)ken; 2–3 speoken.
c. 1000. in Assmann, Ags. Hom., xviii. 55. Hy … wið hi specan woldon.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xii. 46. Secende spæcon [c. 1160 Hatton spæcen] to him.
c. 1120. O. E. Chron. (MS. H), an. 1113. Swa þæt hiʓ uneaðe specon mihton.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 35. Ȝif he mihte speken. Ibid., 89. Heo … on-gunnen to speoken.
c. 1205. Lay., 14758. He wold spæcken heom wið.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3400. Ðo cam ietro … To speken him.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 20025 (Trin.). I bigon hir worshepe speken.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 468/1. Spekyn, loquor.
γ. 3–6 speke, 4–6 spek, 4 spec, speck, 5 speike, 6–7 speake, 6–8 Sc. speik, 6– speak (Ir. 8–9 spake).
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 261. Let me speke.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24795 (Edinb.). For to spek about sum pais. Ibid. (13[?]), 19176 (Gött.). Quilis þai suld samen speck.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4976. By course for to speike.
1483. Cath. Angl., 353/1. To Speke,… loqui.
1535. Coverdale, Isaiah lxvi. 19. The Iles … that haue not herde speake of me.
1586. Ld. Burghley, in Leycester Corr. (Camden), 450. Some spek of namyng the count Morrice.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., 94 b. Na man sall speik.
a. 1700. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., IX. 362. She could not speake french.
1762. Foote, Orator, II. By my shoul but I will spake.
2. Pres. tense sing. (Early contracted forms.) a. 2nd pers. α. 1 sprycst, 1–2 sprecst, 2 spræcst. β. 1 spycst, 2 spæcst, 3 spekst, 3–4 spext.
α. 971. Blickl. Hom., 183. Forhwon ne sprecst þu?
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John iv. 27. Hwæt sprycst [c. 1160 Hatton sprecst] þu wið hiʓ?
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., John xix. 10. Hwi ne spræcst þu wið me.
β. c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xiii. 10. For hwiʓ spycst [c. 1160 Hatton spæcst] þu … mid biʓ-spellum?
a. 1272. in O. E. Misc., 98. Hwat spekstu of eny stone.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 128. Þov spext ase a fol.
c. 1320. in Rel. Antiq., I. 265. Ȝef thou with dede mon spext.
b. 3rd pers. α. 1 sprycð, 1–2 spricð, sprecð, 2 spræcð. β. 1 spycð, spycþ, 2–4 specþ, specð (2 specd), 3 spechð, 3–4 spekþ, 4 spekth.
α. c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., 380. Ðæs monnes saul þe wel spricð.
971. Blickl. Hom., 55. Se þa soþfæstnesse … sprecþ.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John vii. 18. Se þe be him sylfum sprycð [c. 1160 Hatton spræcð].
β. c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John vii. 26. Nu he spycþ openlice.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 51. Dauid specð … sume of þe wordes.
a. 1225. Owl & Night., 1072. Wel viht þat wel spekþ.
1340. Ayenb., 126. Huanne he specþ of þise … uirtues.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 366. Solyns spekth of a wonder kinde.
3. Past tense. a. sing. α. 1 sprec, 1–2 spræc (1 spræcc), 2 spreac.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xcviii. 7. In syle wolcnes [he] sprec to him.
a. 900. in O. E. Texts, 178. He spræc to his liornæra sumum.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke ix. 11. [He] spræcc him of ric godes.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1083. Þe abbot … spræc uppon þa munecas. Ibid. (1131), an. 1131. Se abbot … spreac mid þone kyng.
β. 1–3 spæc, 2–4 spec, spek, 4–5 speck.
a. 1000. Psalm l. 30. Dauid … ðus wordum spæc.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1046. Sweʓen … spec wið his feder.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 73. Of ileue spek ure drihten.
c. 1205. Lay., 12655. He … of gode spæc swide wel.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 308. Hwil þet ha spek þus.
c. 1307. Elegy Death Edw. I., vi. The pope … spec a word of gret honour.
13[?]. K. Horn, 600. An hound … spek wordes bolde.
γ. 2–5 spac (3 Orm. spacc), 4–5, Sc. and dial. 7– spack, 5 spacke, spakke, 3–5, Sc. and north. 6– spak, 9 Sc. spak’.
a. 1154. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1140. Þe biscop … spac wid Rodbert.
c. 1200. Ormin, 224. Spacc he nohht wiþþ tunge.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 396. Ho spak boþe right & red.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12005. Sum him … spack o prise.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 312. Many þinges þat God spac not.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), I. xvi. 14. These wordys whiche … the juge … spack.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. xxi. 68. Thenne spak Igrayne.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 84. Than spak that Virgin fre.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, I. 467. Ne’re word she spak.
1786. Burns, Holy Fair, iv. Laughan as she spak.
δ. 3 spæke, 3–5 speke, 4 speeke, 5 speek.
Properly representing the OE. forms sprǽce, spǽce.
c. 1200. Ormin, 16260. Þeȝȝ wenndenn þatt he spæke … off þeȝȝre temmple.
c. 1275. Lay., 14316. Þe speche þat þe maide speke.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 458. Pees … þus to hire Fader speek.
1382. Wyclif, Job ii. 10. As oon of the fool wymmen thou speeke.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), lx. Thenne speke Sir Amadace so fre.
ε. 3– (now arch., dial. or poet.) spake, 4–5 spaak. Also 2nd pers. 5 spakist, 6– spakest, 6 spakst, 7 poet. spak’st.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 535. Do nu þat þu er of spake.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 265. He spaak þes wordis. Ibid. (1388), 1 Sam. xxviii. 21. Thi wordis, whiche thou spakist.
1461. Paston Lett., II. 14. I … spake Ric. Sothwell.
1509. Fisher, Wks. (1876), 103. That thou spake them to hym.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 444. I, ere thou spak’st, Knew [etc.].
1781. Cowper, Conversation, 511. They spake of him they lov’d.
1827. [see B. 1 f].
1848. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., 321. Spake … is still heard occasionally from the pulpit, as well as in conversation.
1872. Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 472. Lancelot ever spake him pleasantly.
ζ. 6– spoke, 7, 9 dial. spok, 7 spoak(e, spook, 8–9 dial. spock. Also 2nd pers. 9 spokest.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. xii. 25. He … blasphemy spoke.
1615. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 18. She spoake Spanish. Ibid. (1617), 260. He spok to the Chinas.
1697. J. Lewis, Mem. Dk. Glocester (1789), 50. A sweetness … that spoke the inner feelings.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., III. He spoke to me.
1802. Med. Jrnl., VIII. 194. With whom I spoke here lately.
1848. Lytton, Harold, I. iii. 41. Thou spokest of Harold.
b. Plur. α. 1 sprecun, -on (-an), 1–2 spræcon (1 -un, -an, 2 -en).
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter cxviii. 23. Aldermen … wið me sprecun.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., 95. Eall ðæt ðæt we ær spræcon.
971. Blickl. Hom., 77. Hie … to Criste spræcan. Ibid., 99. Þa þe … him olyhtword sprecan.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xxiv. 36. Þa hiʓ þis spræcon [c. 1160 Hatton spræcen].
1123. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1123. Ða spræcon ða biscopas hem betwenan.
β. 1–2 spæcon, 2 spæcen, 2–3 spæken (3 Orm. -enn); 2 specon, 2–5 speken (5 spekon, -yn), 3–5 speke, 4 spek; 4 speeken, spieken, speeke, spieke.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke xxiv. 14. And hiʓ spæcon him betwynan.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Luke ix. 30. Ða spæken [v.r. spæcen] tweʓen weres wið hine.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 89. Þe apostles spoken to þes folkes igederunge.
c. 1205. Lay., 8249. Þus þe cnihtes him spæken [c. 1275 speke] wið.
c. 1305. St. Dunstan, 9, in E. E. P. (1862), 34. Hi speke ech to oþer.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter xxxvii. 13. Hij … speken uanites.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. cxviii. 23. Aȝen me thei speeken.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 235. Therof spieken alle men. Ibid., III. 300. Togedre as thei tuo speeke.
c. 1450. Merlin, 25. The peple … assembleden, and speken of Vortiger.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, 71. The most valiaunt knyght that men euere spoke of.
γ. 4–5 spaken, 4–5, 7 spake, 4 space, spac, 4, 6 Sc. spack, 4, 9 dial. spak.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lxxii. 8. Þai … spake quedenes vnrighte.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter cviii. 2. Hij spaken to me.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 11990 (Trin.). Þei spake to Ioseph.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. x. 206. Whom prophetis bifore spaken Sauiour.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., II. 284. Tha spack verie scharpe.
1621. Cocks, Diary, 11 Nov. (1883), II. 218. Those 10 men they spake of.
δ. 3–5 spoken, 4 spokyn; 4, 6– spoke, 5 spook.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2913. Quanne he ðat bodewurd spoken.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter cxviii. 23. For princes … spoken oȝains me.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. II. 225. Spiceres spoke with hym.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVII. viii. 700. As they spoken thus.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. iv. 17. That [way] they spoke of.
4. Past Participle. α. 1 ʓesprecen, ʓespecen, 3 i-specken, i-speken, i-spæ(c)ken; 1 sprecen, 2 sprecon; 3–5 speken, 7 speaken, 6 spaken.
Beowulf, 643. Þa wæs eft … þryðword sprecen.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xviii. § 1. Ða ðis þa ʓesprecen was.
c. 1050. Ags. Hom. (Assmann), 183. Ða þa Tyrus hæfde þus ʓespecen.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 675. Swa swa ʓe hit sprecon hauen.
c. 1200. Moral Ode, 9 (Trin. Coll. MS.). Fele idel word ich habbe ispeken.
c. 1205. Lay., 13643. Ich habbe … ispæken him wið.
c. 1300. Havelok, 2369. Þat ich haue of ofte speken.
c. 1590. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. III. 159. I have spaken to Dollyne.
1670. Dk. York, in 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., 421/1. Nor will it be speaken on … till next weeke.
β. 3–4 i-speke, y-speke, 4–5 speke, 4 spek.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1293. For þe hule swo ispeke hadde.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 228. Þare nas neuere … yspeke … non oþur word.
1340. Ayenb., 69. Uor þet hi habbeþ yspeke.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 4605. Til i speke haue.
γ. 4–5 y-, i-spoken, i-spokyn; 4– spoken (5 -ene, -un), 4–5, Sc. 6 spokin (5 Sc. -ine), 4–6 spokyn, 5 spockyn, 6 Sc., 9 dial. spocken (9 dial. spockin, spawken), 6 Sc. spokne, 7 spokn, spoaken.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1757. Quen he his wil had with him spoken.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter xi. 2. Ichon han i-spoken idel þynges.
1450–80. trans. Secreta Secret., 13. Whan that this worthi lord hath þus … spokene.
1530. Palsgr., 727/2. Whan they hadde spokyn … of the matter.
1583. Leg. Bp. St. Androis, 353. Trowing the teallis befoir was spocken.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 88. We haue schortlie spokne.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, II. ix. 102. Not so great as they had spoken.
1817. Wilbraham, in Archaeol. (1821), XIX. 38. Spocken, participle of the verb to speak.
δ. 4–5 y-spoke, 4 i-spoke; 4–9 spoke, 5, 7 spok, 7 spoak.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 123. He hadde proudeliche i-spoke.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 60. As I have spoke.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, I. xliv. (1869), 26. Whan Nature hadde þus yspoke.
1461. Paston Lett., II. 42. I have spok with John Rwsse.
1557. Grimald, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 116. Not more of Tyndars ymps hath Sparta spoke.
1622. Donne, Serm. 15 Sept., 37. Neither is that spoak there.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 2. He would not have spoke so doubtfully.
a. 1774. Goldsm., trans. Scarron’s Com. Romance (1775), I. 63. When she had spoke these last words.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., vii. Nothing was spoke of for some time.
1843. S. R. Maitland, Dark Ages, xvi. (1890), 293. That I have … spoke the truth.
ε. 6–7 spake, 9 Sc. spak’.
c. 1500. Three Kings’ Sons, 61. That he had spake to hym.
1616. W. Forde, Serm., 17. He had no sooner spake the word.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, V. ii. Tho’ spake by him That never brake his word.
1812. P. Forbes, Poems, 34 (E.D.D.). Another chield that hadna spak’.
B. Signification.
I. intr. 1. To utter or pronounce words or articulate sounds; to use or exercise the faculty of speech; to express one’s thoughts by words.
Beowulf, 1698. Ða se wisa spræc sunu Healfdenes; swiʓedon ealle.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., iii. § 3. Þa ongan he eft sprecan & cwæð to þan Mode.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xv. 31. Þa mæneʓu wundredon ʓeseonde dumbe specende, healte gangende.
a. 1200. St. Marher., 16. Swuch farlac ich fele … þet speoken i ne dar nawt.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19415. Þe hali spirit vte of him spak.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 126. For defe … to here & dombe speke he made.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 209. He that hyryth the reysones of many men may lightyr well sayne, than he that erste Spake.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., II. (1586), 69 b. Not to speake, while an other is in speaking,… before he which speaketh be thorowly understood.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 65. If but one of his pockets could speake, would it not say he lyes?
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 182. I had taught my Poll, as I noted before, to speak.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, III. xiv. 231. He spoke with great feeling on the subject for which I was summoned.
1897. Gladstone, E. Crisis, 6. It is time to speak with freedom.
transf. 1611. Bible, Prov. vi. 13. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feete, hee teacheth with his fingers.
b. Said of the mouth, tongue, etc.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xvi. 10. Muð heara spreocende wes in oferhyʓde.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke vi. 45. Soðlice se muð spycð [c. 1160 specð] swa seo heorte þencð.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. lxv. 14. My mouth spac in my tribulacioun.
1535. Coverdale, Matt. xii. 34. For of ye abundance of ye hert ye mouth speaketh.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Song Sol. vii. 9. Which … causeth the lippes of the ancient to speake.
1611. Bible, Isaiah xxxii. 4. The tongue of the stammerers shall bee readie to speake plainely.
1646. Crashaw, Steps to Temple, Poems (1904), 74. Christ bids the dumb tongue speak; it speakes.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 95. When I have cut off thy head, will it speak?
c. To hold talk or discourse, to converse, with others or with each other. (Cf. 19.) Also, in mod. use, to be on speaking terms.
971. Blickl. Hom., 93. Seo eorþe on þæm norþ-ende & on þam east-ende sprecað him betweonum.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke vii. 32. Hi synt ʓelice cildum on stræte sittendum & specendum betwux him.
c. 1125. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1123. Se king … and se biscop … riden þær specende.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3389. Þa hirdess tokenn sone þuss To spekenn hemm bitwenenn.
1375. [see 3 a].
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 208. Thus as they lihe abedde and spieke.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Acts xxvi. 31. Going a side, they spake among them selues, saying [etc.].
1607. Shaks., Cor., I. iv. 4. They lye in view, but haue not spoke as yet.
1777. Clara Reeve, Champion of Virtue, 54. While they were speaking, Oswald came to them, and said [etc.].
1819. Shelley, Cenci, V. i. 64. Even whilst we speak The ministers of justice wait below.
1826. Disraeli, Vivian Grey, II. ii. There is Courtown, but we do not speak.
1865. H. Kingsley, Hillyars & Burtons, III. xxiii. 240. Even their husbands did not speak for a fortnight.
d. In various phrases and proverbs.
See also BOOK sb. 14 and CARD sb.2 4 c.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1074. ‘Wel fiȝt þat wel specþ,’ seide Alured.
1381. in Knighton’s Chron. (Rolls), II. 139. Speke, spende and spede, quoth Jon of Bathon.
a. 1435. Cursor M., 23849 (Trin.). Euer to speke & not to spede, Wastyng hit is of goddes sede.
14[?]–. [see SPARE v.1 6 c].
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 66. Mistake me not, I speake but as I finde.
c. 1676. South, Serm. (1715), 341. He only now-a-days speaks like an Oracle, who speaks Tricks and Ambiguities.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VI. 61. He always loved to speak as he found.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 482. I am speaking like a book.
e. With reflexive or ethical dative. rare.
c. 1400. Anturs of Arth., l. Bot than hym spake Gallerone to Gawayne þe gude.
1703. Rowe, Ulyss., I. i. 366. This Wife of him that was my Friend? Eur. Thou speak’st me well, of him that was thy Friend.
1839–48. Bailey, Festus, 60/1. Thou speakest me of visions.
f. To deliver a speech or formal address; to express one’s opinions or views in an assembly of any kind.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., II. ii. (1584), 40. The speaker hath no voice in the house, nor they will not suffer him to speake in any bill to mooue or disswade it.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 89. Heere, vnder leaue of Brutus, and the rest,… Come I to speake in Cæsars Funerall.
1689. Sc. Acts Parlt. (1875), XII. 59/2. That the members be allowed to speak oftner than twyce if it be done with discreatione.
1738. trans. Guazzo’s Art Conversation, 115. Marius, being to speak before the People of Rome, said [etc.].
1827. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, II. 574. Lord Grenville spake in a similar temper.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 18. The Commons were summoned to the bar of the Lords; and the King spoke from the throne. His speech had been composed by himself.
2. a. Followed by direct quotation of the words uttered.
More commonly with insertion of ‘and said.’
Beowulf, 1168. Spræc ða ides Scyldinga: ‘Onfoh þissum fulle.’
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), lxiii. 4. Hi … sare sprecað, ‘Hwa ʓesyhð usic?’
a. 1325. Prose Psalter xxxviii. 5. Ich spak wyþ my tunge, ‘Make, Lord, knowen to me myn endyng.’
1375. in Horstmann, Altengl. Leg. (1878), 127/1. Adam þo spak ful pitously: ‘A, deuel, wo þe be!’
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems (S.T.S.), xxxiv. 14. Than spak the Devill…, ‘Renunce thy God and cum to me.’
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 30. For thou hes spoken … ‘the bread quhilk I sal giue is my fleshe.’
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 339. Again th’ Almightie spake: Let there be Lights [etc.].
1781. Cowper, Hope, 524. Well spake the prophet, Let the desert sing.
1825. Scott, Betrothed, vi. He spoke again, and in anxious haste, ‘Daughter, we are betrayed!’
1859. Tennyson, Marr. Geraint, 555. Loudly spake the Prince, ‘Forbear: there is a worthier.’
b. In pa. t. used in narrative poetry (after L. dixit) at the end of a speech. Cf. SAY v.1 B. 3 e.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 663. He spake: and to confirm his words [etc.].
1697. Dryden, Æneid, V. 218. He spoke, and … at his stern he saw [etc.].
1716. Pope, Iliad, V. 351. He spoke, and rising hurl’d his forceful dart.
1757. Gray, Bard, 143. He spoke, and headlong … plunged to endless night.
1820. Shelley, Hymn Merc., lxix. He spoke, and bound Stiff withy bands the infant’s wrists around.
3. a. With advs. and advb. phrases, as so, thus, etc. (See also 4 a.)
Speak may also be accompanied by many different adverbs denoting either the tone of voice, the temper or intention of the speaker, or the character of the ideas expressed. For some special instances of these see EVIL adv. 1, FAIR adv. 2, FALSE adv. 1, HOME adv. 5, LOW adv. 3, PLAIN adv. 2 and 3, SOFT adv. 4, THICK adv. 4, WELL adv.
971. Blickl. Hom., 227. Þa he þa þus spræc, ða ʓeseah he [etc.].
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 312. He … feng on þus to speokene.
c. 1250. Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 27. Herodes … swo spac te þo þrie kinges.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 613. Thusgatis spekand, thai held thar way.
1557. Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 216. If guile do guide your wit by silence so to speake.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xviii. 24. On this manner spake Dauid.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 271. So Satan spake, and him Beelzebub Thus answer’d.
1748. Smollett, R. Random, lvi. While I spoke thus, she concealed her face with her fan.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxviii. Speak not so, my dear father.
1845. S. Judd, Margaret, I. xiv. 116. I have heard Hash speak so.
b. With advs. of quantity, as less, little, more, much.
With these words it is often difficult to distinguish between the intr. and trans. uses of the verb.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19115. Þe apostels spekand þus and mar, þe preistes come.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 77. Was noiþer more no lesse of þer penance spoken.
1388. Wyclif, 2 Sam. xix. 29. What spekist thou more?
c. 1400. Brut, cxiii. 114. When þe Kyng herde speke so miche of here beaute.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 270. Mair the King spak nocht.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., I. i. 112. I haue for barbarisme spoke more.
1702. Eng. Theophrastus, 335. It is the character of your half witted fellows to speak much and say little.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, II. xxxii. Little he ate, and less he spoke.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxxiv. Perhaps rather disappointed that the port wine had not made Jim speak more.
c. With advs. denoting continuation, as away, on.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xxvii. 12. Amonge soch as be wyse, speake on hardely.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. iii. 43. Speake on, but be not ouer-tedious.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., Song xvii. Speak on,… and still my grief.
1781. C. Johnston, Hist. J. Juniper, II. 164. If stages were built for them to speak away upon.
a. 1814. Fam. Politics, V. iii. in New Brit. Theat., II. 248. Speak away, girl: we shall halt here some time yet.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, i. He wanted her to speak on.
d. With advs. having reference to the use of a particular language or style of speech.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xvi. ‘Thou speakest too well for one who hath lived always in thy filthy horde,’ said the Scot.
1846. Landor, Image Conv., Southey & Landor, Wks. 1853, II. 164/1. Varlunga, a pastoral district, in which the people speak differently from both.
4. In various parenthetical and other phrases:
a. In the infinitive, esp. so to speak.
(a) 1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 205. All goodnesse (to speake at a worde) goeth awaie.
1595. Shaks., John, II. i. 514. Or if you will, to speake more properly, I will enforce it easlie.
1628. Gaule, Pract. The. (1629), 232. Before Herod (to speake in few) they put vpon him a Fooles Note.
1671. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 494. There was no year, wherein he did not gain a thousand Duckats, to speak with the least.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., vii. It would cost me nothing … to say yes—but, to speak on the square, I must needs say no.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, London of To-day, xlv. (ed. 3), 362. To speak by the book, ‘Mr. Gunter, cook, confectioner, and fruiter.’
(b) 1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. III. iii. Notables are, so to speak, organed out.
1888. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Bootle’s Childr., v. Pearl … was the leading spirit of the pair, and led Maud by the pose, so to speak.
attrib. and as sb. 1874. Gentl. Mag., July, 126. In a so to speak unconscious manner.
1893. R. Heath, Eng. Peasant, 248. This statement of his … is not to be dismissed as a mere so-to-speak.
b. As they (etc.) speak, = as the phrase is.
1595. in J. H. Pollen, Acts Eng. Martyrs (1892), vi. 101. Forthwith was found by the twelve billa vera, as they speak.
1665. Phil. Trans., I. 80. By letting down shafts from the day (as Miners speak).
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, I. (1723), 37. Many of them became petrified, as they speak.
1846. Keble, Serm., xiii. (1848), 335. The same saying fell accidentally (as men speak) on the eye of another rich young man.
c. In pres. pple. with advs., as broadly, correctly, generally, humanly, properly, roughly, strictly, etc. (Freq. in recent use.)
1699. T. Brown, Lett. to Dr. Brown at Tunbridge, Wks. 1711, IV. 129. Misfortunes … of which I can, humanly speaking, see no End.
1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 90. Generally speaking, I am an advocate for malt and hops only.
1855. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Inorg. Nat., 108. Strictly speaking also, there are no beds hitherto found lying above the chalk.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, ii. § 74. Speaking broadly, a man ought to know any language or science he learns, thoroughly.
5. Of a writer, literary composition, etc.: To make a statement or declaration in words; to state or say.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 131. Seinte paul … speceð on þe halie pistle þe me ret to dei.
c. 1205. Lay., 70. Al swa þe boc spekeð þe he to bisne inom.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 4529. Þai sal be, als þe appocalips spekes, In … hayres cledde.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1908), 50. Herto accordynge speketh the apostle … in his pistle ad hebreos.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. ix. 42 b. Strabo spake aright, where he sayeth [etc.].
1631. Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 250. My old Anonimall Manuscrip speakes … to the like effect.
1763. C. Johnston, Reverie, I. 42. You are to observe that I speak in the general.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 265. It was admitted that the ancients spoke from justifiable data.
1869. T. C. Barker, Aryan Civiliz., x. (1871), 31. A law of the Twelve Tables at Rome speaks to the same effect.
6. fig. Of things: To be expressive or significant; to make some revelation or disclosure.
1535. Coverdale, Heb. xii. 24. The sprenklynge off bloude, that speaketh better then the bloude of Abel.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., IV. Wks. 1856, I. 54. His grief speakes in his slow-pac’t steps.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 267. His words here ended, but his meek aspect Silent yet spake.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., i. 8. We read of feet, that speak; of a philosopher, who answerd an argument by only getting up and walking.
1813. Byron, Corsair, I. iii. A sail!—a sail!… Her nation—flag—how speaks the telescope?
1835. J. Nolan, in R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med. (1843), xiv. 153. His countenance now spoke promisingly.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, iv. Never had her heart spoken before.
b. To take effect legally; to be valid.
1837. Act 7 Will. IV. & 1 Vict., c. 26 § 24. That every Will shall be construed … to speak and take effect as if it had been executed immediately before the Death of the Testator.
1845. Williams, Real Prop., x. 154, marg. A will now speaks from the death of testator.
7. transf. a. Of musical instruments, etc.: To emit a sound; spec. to utter a full and proper note. Chiefly rhet. or techn.
1602. Shaks., Ham., V. ii. 286. Let the Kettle to the Trumpets speake.
1676. Mace, Musick’s Mon., 70. The String lying upon This only Round single Fret, cannot but speak Clear.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 19 Nov. 1674. He … made it [a violin] speake like the voice of a man.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xliii. Horns and other instruments … spoke in sweet response to the harmony that proceeded from the pavilion.
1843. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., VI. 108/1. By coupling the pedals with the keys, 87 pipes are made to speak with each pedal.
1884. Encycl. Brit., XVII. 833/2. This saves space in the interior [of the organ], and gives the large pipes room to speak.
b. Of natural forces, etc.: To emit noise, make a sound; to reverberate.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. i. 5. Me thinks, the wind hath spoke aloud at Land.
1807–8[?]. Wordsw., Somnambulist, 4. How softly then Doth Aira-force … Speak from the woody glen!
1859. G. Meredith, R. Feverel, xlii. All at once the thunder spoke.
c. Of firearms: To emit a report on being fired.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 67. He loves dearly to hear his Guns speak.
1875. Kinglake, Crimea (1877), VI. vi. 218. The Coldstream … could not get their wet rifles to speak.
1896. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Jan., 1/3. The news from the Transvaal, where the rifles have already spoken.
d. Of a hound: To give tongue; to bay.
1826. Sporting Mag. (N.S.), XVII. 288. The hounds were speaking in the covert.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., 605. The word [‘quest’] is never used with hounds; they ‘give tongue,’ ‘speak,’ or ‘bay.’
e. Naut. (See quot.)
1833. M. Scott, Tom Cringle, viii. The sharp little vessel began to speak, as the rushing sound through the water is called.
f. techn. (See quot.)
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 205. When the tool is of proper size the pinion will ‘speak’ (make a squeaking noise) as the red stuff is drying off.
II. With preps., in more or less specialized uses.
8. Speak about —: (see ABOUT prep. 7).
Cf. the common OE. sprecan ymb(e.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24795. For to spek abute sum pais.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. iii. 83. Were such things here, as we doe speake about?
1671. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 263. He falls on speaking about the success of their business.
1737–. [see 13 b].
1843. J. H. Newman, Lett. (1891), II. 430. Sermons which speak more confidently about our position than I inwardly feel.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Numb. xxi. 7. We singodon swiðe, for þan þe we swa spræcon onʓean god & þe.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 678. Þar muþ shal speke ayeyn horte.
1388. Wyclif, Ps. xlix. 20. Thou sittynge spakist aȝens thi brother.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 2928 (Trin.). Þer aȝeyn durst he not speke.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 59. I speake not agaynst greate candelles, but agaynst lytle candels.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 243. Sith that both charge and danger Speake ’gainst so great a number.
1736. Ainsworth, I. s.v., If he go on to speak lavishly against me.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, VII. 112. On the other side Hortensia spoke against the tax.
1908. R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, xxvi. 339. Some regretted in the near future that they spoke against her as an interloper.
10. Speak for —. a. To make a speech or plea in place of or on behalf of (a person); in later use esp. to plead for. Also, to make representations concerning (a thing).
a. 1300. K. Horn, 171. Hor[n] spak for hem alle.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xxvi. 1. It is suffrid to thee, for to speke for thi silf.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, iv. (Arb.), 7. How grymbart the dasse … spack for reynart.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings iv. 13. Hast thou eny matter to be spoken for to the kynge?
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 139. An unpardonable fault, insomuch that no man would speak for him.
1736. Ainsworth, I. s.v., If ever he do so again, I will never speak for him.
1777. Clara Reeve, Champion of Virtue, 102. Take courage and speak for yourself.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxvi. ‘I say, speak not for her!’ replied Leicester.
1858. Longfellow, M. Standish, III. Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?
transf. 1607. Shaks., Cor., III. i. 127. There Mutinies and Reuolts … spoke not for them.
1722–7. Boyer, Dict. Royal, I. s.v. Parler, Ses Services parlent pour lui, his Services speak for him.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), II. 664/2. He had a very engaging countenance, which spoke for him before he opened his lips.
1859. Tennyson, Merlin & V., 466. She ceased,… and let her eyes Speak for her.
b. To beg or request; to ask for.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Song Sol. viii. 8. What shal we do for our sister … when she shalbe spoken for?
1594. Lyly, Mother Bombie, I. iii. They giue vs pap with a spoon before we can speak, and when wee speake for that wee loue, pap with a hatchet.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. iv. 267. The shame it selfe doth speake For instant remedy.
c. To order; to bespeak; to engage.
1679. Bunyan, Israel’s Hope Encour., Wks. 1855, I. 583. As your great traders do with the goods that their chapmen have either bought or spoke for.
1730. Bailey (fol.), To Bespeak, to speak for something; to give order for it to be made.
1743. Lond. & Country Brewer, IV. (ed. 2), 284. The next time he went to the Brew-house to speak for more.
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, xv. The bell was rung, and the carriages spoken for.
1859. Mrs. Stowe, Minister’s Wooing, xii. 115. Three months beforehand, all her days and nights are spoken for.
d. To indicate; to betoken.
1832. Philological Museum, I. 335. The great mass of evidence that speaks for an intimate affinity between the Pelasgians and the Hellenes.
1852. Mrs. Craik, Head of Family, viii. It may speak very ill for Mr. Græme’s knowledge of the world, to confess [etc.].
1910. Hirth, in Encycl. Brit., VI. 191/1. This does not seem to speak for racial consanguinity.
e. To speak for itself, to be significant or self-evident. (Cf. 28 c.)
1779. Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 212–3. The letter was not from any of the family, she said, and that speaks for itself.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., viii. But I need not detail them—the fact speaks for itself.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 126–7. The paragraph … will speak for itself.
11. Speak of —. a. To mention, or discourse upon, in speech or writing. (See also 13 b.)
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter cxviii. 46. [Ic] sprec of cyðnissum ðinum in ʓesihðe cyninga.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke ix. 11. [He] spræcc him of ric godes.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 73. Of þe halie fulht spec ure drihten on oðer stude.
c. 1200. Ormin, 6784. Goddspellboc ne spekepþ nohht Off all þatt oþerr genge.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 2683. Here es þe thred parte of þis buke spedde Þat spekes of þe dede.
1422. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 203. Of this Spekyth the boke of Iudyth.
1530. Palsgr., 727/2. I go nowe beyondsee, but if God send me lyfe you shall here speke of me.
1603. Parsons, Three Convers. Eng., II. viii. 481. I shall haue occasion to speake againe of these heretiks in the next chapter.
1730. A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 58. The Theatre … is spoke of by Martial.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xviii. ‘And speaking of red-game,’ said the young scape-grace, interrupting his father.
1884. trans. Lotze’s Metaph., 43. A common-place with every philosophy which spoke of Things at all.
transf. 1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xlii. Every object on which her eye fixed seemed to speak of the marchioness.
1833. L. Ritchie, Wand. by Loire, 180. At Doulon every thing begins to speak of the neighbourhood of a city.
1894. Max Pemberton, Sea Wolves, xi. He … wore sea-boots to his hips, though they spoke of much service and of decay.
b. With advs., as evil, ill, well.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Mark ix. 39. Seðe … mæʓe recone yfle spreca [L. male loqui] of mec.
1382. Wyclif, Ps. lxxvii. 19. And euele thei speken of God. Ibid. (1382), Jer. xl. 16. Fals forsothe thou spekist of Ismael.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 83. Whan þou spekyst euyll of an-oþer mannys goodnesse.
1530. Palsgr., 727/2. Never speke yl of men behynde their backes.
1535–. [see EVIL adv. 1 b].
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 598. He was … well spoken of of all men.
1611. Bible, Luke vi. 26. Woe vnto you when all men shall speake well of you: for so did their fathers to the false Prophets.
1635. R. N., trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., Introd. Howbeit her dayes have beene ill spoken of.
1807. Southey, Espriella’s Lett., II. 263. The boys … spake well of their masters.
c. In the phr. to speak of (in later use = ‘worth mentioning’). Chiefly in negative constructions.
Also (b.) = ‘if mentioned or considered.’
(a) 1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 27. Of hys strengthe is not a lytel thynge to speke of, For [etc.].
1582. Bentley, Mon. Matrones, iii. 269. For that which I haue hitherto done, is nothing at all to speake of.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 633. This Towne is not very ancient to speak of.
1654. Gataker, Disc. Apol., 47. None out-went me, few to speak of came neer me.
1694. Wood, Life, 23 Oct. No raine to speak of all Sept. and Oct.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xlv. He had ridden the whole day … without tasting anything ‘to speak of.’
1881. Freeman, in Stephens, Life & Lett. (1895), II. 244. To-day has come the first snow to speak of.
(b) 1580. G. Harvey, Lett. to Spenser, in S.’s Wks. (1912), 628/1. For the Romanes to speake of, are but verye Ciphars in this kinde.
† d. Not to be spoken of, (to be) beyond all description. Obs.
1600. Nashe, Summer’s Last Will, 989, Wks. (Grosart), VI. 126. As for my Pease and my Fetches, they are famous, and not to be spoken of.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., V. ii. 47. Then haue you lost a Sight which was to bee seene, cannot bee spoken of.
† e. To bespeak; to order. Obs.–1
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., II. iv. 5. We haue not spoke vs yet of Torch-bearers.
f. With verbal sbs.: To suggest, propose, hint at (doing something).
1586. Ld. Burghley, in Leycester Corr. (Camden), 450. Some spek of namyng the count Morrice.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xxx. 6. The people spake of stoning him.
1792. Burns, Duncan Gray, ii. Duncan … Spak o’ lowpin’ ower a linn.
12. Speak on —. † a. To address or talk to (a person). Obs.
1370[?]. Robt. Cisyle, in Halliwell, Nugæ Poeticæ (1844), 58. Lowde on hym he began to speke.
1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), xxxvii. So come a mon … And speke on him fulle hastely.
† b. = To speak of (see 11 a, b). Obs.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. ii. 69 (Q.). I am well spoke on, I can heare it with mine owne eares.
1647. Saltmarsh, Spark. Glory (1847), 28. The Baptism of Christ … is that one Baptism spoken on in Ephes. 4.
c. To discourse upon (a subject, etc.).
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xxix. Mr. Hayston speaks on a subject on which you have long since agreed to give him a favourable hearing.
1876. Nature, 7 Dec., 128. The Society … has invited Prof. Nordenskjöld to speak on the Kara Sea and Jenissei.
13. Speak to —. a. To address words or discourse to (a person); to talk to, converse with.
To speak to (see quot. 1837), so as to have conversation or personal acquaintance with one. Freq. in the phr. ‘to know (one) to speak to.’
Beowulf, 1171. Þu on sælum wes … & to ʓeatum sprec mildum wordum.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xlix. 7. [Ic] sprecu to Israhela folce.
971. Blickl. Hom., 141. Heo spræc to þæm weorode & cwæþ [etc.].
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John x. 25. Ic spece [c. 1160 speke] to eow & ʓe ne ʓelyfað.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 925. After ðis spac god to abram.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11964. Sai þou: i der noght til him speke.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. xiv. 3. He that prophecieth, spekith to men.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xxiii. 69. I wold haue spoke to them but I ne myght nought.
1528. Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 118. Thus to the Cardinall he spake.
1581. Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 13 b. If … you resalute not a friend, he will speake no more to you.
a. 1635. Sibbes, Confer. Christ & Mary (1656), 15. When he speaks aloof to her, she answereth aloof to him.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxv. 216. Commanded by a Voice, as one man speaketh to another.
1751. Eliza Heywood, Betsy Thoughtless, I. 165. What reply she made I do not know, being speaking to Wildly at the same time.
1837. Lowell, Lett. (1894), I. 21. How I remember the first time I ever saw you ‘to speak to.’
1908. R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, xxvi. 342. It was too late that night to speak to her.
b. With of, on, or about (a matter, etc.).
c. 1200. Ormin, 10466. Þatt fir Þatt Sannt Johan Bapptisste Spacc offe to þa sanderrmenn.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 3204. What scholen we don of this mateer That he to vs spak of now heer?
1530. Palsgr., 727/1. I speke to him of my busynes.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. ix. 17. Behold the man whom I spake to thee of.
1737. Gentl. Mag., VII. 492. I have … spoke to the King of England …. about your Friend.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 234. They spake to me of the various Works of Nature.
1804. Med. Jrnl., XII. 448. I also spoke to the principal surgeons … on the subject of vaccination.
1888. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Bootle’s Childr., iv. Whatever you wish for, you have only to speak to nurse here about it.
c. transf. or fig.; esp. to appeal to, to influence, affect or touch.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. ii. 23. My demerites May speake (vnbonnetted) to as proud a Fortune As this. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., I. ii. 188. More vrgent touches Do strongly speake to vs.
1700. Astry, trans. Saavedra-Faxardo, I. 116 b. Elogies inscribed on Tombs, speak not to the Dead, but to the Living.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), II. II. 32. To give a more lively idea of the greatness of the victory, by speaking in some measure to the eye.
1825. T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Doubts & F., vii. II. 231. How strongly it speaks to the heart.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xvi. The actor had spoken to them in the eloquence of rhythmic gesture.
d. To apply to (a person) for a special purpose, esp. for help or service; to influence or bribe.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 130. My Wyf … Spak to þe spinsters for to spinne hit softe.
1535. [see 10 a].
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. i. 3. Good: Speake to th’Mariners.
1669. R. Montagu, in Buccleuch MSS., I. 430. Their friends having spoke to me to speak for them to the King.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 26. If you would have a lodging room there, you must speak to the Porter of the Han.
1856. Household Wds., XXXIV. 26/1 (Flügel). When judges were corrupt, and lord chancellors took ‘presents,’ and attorney-generals were to be ‘spoken to.’
e. To treat of or deal with, to discuss or comment on, (a subject) in speech or writing.
1610. J. Dove, Advt. Seminaries, 42. I desire them therefore … to speake to these foure points.
1637. Heylin, Answ. Burton, 78. For your charges,… I meane to take them all as they lye in order, and speake as briefely to them, as you would desire.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, II. vi. § 4. Though it be a subject little spoken to either by Jewish or Christian Writers.
1706. Stanhope, Paraphr., III. 555. Part of this Scripture hath already been spoken to.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., Wks. 1755, V. II. 110. A lawyer, who speaks to a cause, when the matter hath been almost exhausted by those who spoke before.
1778. Earl Malmesbury, Diaries & Corr., I. 166. Unprepared as he was for such a proposition, he could not, he said, off-hand, speak to it accurately.
1869. Daily News, 28 April, 4/5. The report … was spoken to by the Most Rev. Chairman … and the Bishop of Derry. Ibid. (1880), 19 March, 2/3. I wish to call your attention … to … that allegation, and I shall endeavour to speak to it.
f. To give († or constitute) evidence regarding (a thing); to attest, bear testimony to.
1624. Bp. Mountagu, Immed. Addr., 201. [These] speake indeed to the practice since it was in being.
1774. Mitford, Ess. Harmony Lang., 195. From the antient Greeks I know of nothing speaking to the sound of the diphthong ου.
1776. Trial of Nundocomar, 65/2. I cannot speak to the motions of the army.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, III. ii. 85. The witness was not allowed to speak to the consultation of that day.
1825. Hazlitt, Spirit of Age, 227. This is a nice criticism, and we cannot speak to its truth.
1888. Times (weekly ed.), 2 Nov., 22/4. [He] asked that witnesses might be called to speak to his character.
g. To address with reproof; to admonish.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment., I. ii. (1811), 67. Who, she hopes, on being spoke to, will do so no more.
1872. Jean Ingelow, Off Skelligs, xix. ‘Papa,’ he exclaimed, in a loud, plaintive voice,… ‘will you speak to Giles?’
h. Cant. To rob (a person or place); to steal.
1799. Spirit Public Jrnls., III. 353. Twenty-four highway and footpad robberies,… none of the parties spoke to on the road able to swear positively.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., To speak to a person or place is to rob them, and to speak to any article is to steal it.
i. slang. (See quot.)
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v. Spoke.… Upon any great misfortune befalling a man,… his friends will say, Poor fellow, I believe he ’s spoke to, meaning it is all over with him.
j. Of hounds: To give indications of (a fox, scent, etc.) by barking.
1845. Youatt, Dog, iii. 78. When a hound first speaks in cover to a fox.
1883. Standard, 10 Aug., 2/1. The hounds could not speak to the line.
14. Speak unto —. a. To speak to (= 13 a).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nun’s Priest’s T., 586. In al his drede vnto the fox he spak.
c. 1400. Brut, ccxviii. 258. He … spake vnto ham of þe Kyngus honour.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. xiv. 3. He that prophesieth, speaketh vnto men.
1640. Fuller, Abel Rediv., Life Abbot (1867), II. 292. His majesty spake pleasantly unto him.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1862), 217. [They were] spoke kindly unto by him.
1839. Bailey, Festus, 136. I speak unto the young, for I am of them.
† b. To discourse upon or deal with (a topic).
1639. Ld. Digby, Lett. conc. Relig. (1651), 108. The precedency … is pretended due upon another ground also, which I have yet spoke little unto.
1675. J. Owen, Indwelling Sin, x. (1732), 117. These and the like things,… which are commonly spoken unto, is the Mind of a Believer obliged to attend … constantly unto.
15. Speak upon —, to speak about, of or on. (Cf. 12 b, c.)
1535. Coverdale, Isaiah xix. 17. Who so doth but speake vpon it, shal put them in feare.
1550. trans. Senonoys’ Godly Saiyngs (1846), 147. The doctrine of the gospell whyche we do professe, shal be evill spoken upon.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxxviii. Remember I do not promise ever to speak upon them.
16. Speak with —. a. To converse with, talk to; to consult or confer with.
In OE. and early ME. similarly with mid.
971. Blickl. Hom., 241. He þæt is se þe wið me spræc.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Exod. xxxii. 23. Þa þu … wið god spæce.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 85. Alse wise hire lerden, þanne hie wið hire speken.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1553. Ne mot no mon wiþ hire speke.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 811. Wiþ morgan speke wil y And spede.
1426. Audelay, Poems, 19. Ȝe spekyn with hym in spirit.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. x. 48. They spak with the knyghtes & welcomed hem.
1530. Palsgr., 727/2. He shalbe spoken with towchyng your cause.
1622. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1908), II. 10. They both retired themselves to there privacy, soe that wee could not then speake with them.
1675. City Mercury, 18–25 Nov., 2/1. He [a Physician] is any time to be spoke with from eight in the Morning to four in the Afternoon.
1764. Foote, Patron, III. Wks. 1799, I. 356. Not to be spoke with! Don’t tell me, Sir; he must, he shall.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxxvi. Your uncle … has been spoken with, and declines visiting you.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, II. 58. Not for three years to speak with any men.
fig. 1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xv. (1687), 134. When any temptation desires to speak with you, let the answer be ready, that there is other company within.
b. Naut. To hold communication with (another vessel). Cf. 32 b.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 182. The expedition bearing vp to speak with vs, the ships fell foule or thwart one another.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4422/7. We made Signal to the Commanding Officer … that we would speak with him.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 24. On our speaking with her we found she had sprung her Fore-stay.
1775. Romans, Florida, App. 6. I need not direct seamen how to proceed, in order to speak with any vessel they chance to see.
c. To communicate with (a place). rare–1.
1659. D. Pell, Impr. Sea, 274–5. In Greenland, and Nova Zembla, &c. which onely in Summer-time may bee spoke with.
† d. Cant. To have to do with; to steal or rob (cf. 13 h). Obs.–0
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v., I will never speak with any thing but Wedge or Cloy; I’ll never steal, or have to do with any thing but Plate, or Money, &c.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., s.v., I spoke with the cull on the cherry coloured prancer, I robbed the man on the black horse.
III. With advs. in special uses.
17. Speak out (cf. 35). a. To talk in a loud voice, or so as to be heard distinctly.
1530. Palsgr., 727/2. Speke out that a man may here you.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxxxiii. 262. Speke out hyer that ye may the better be herde.
1647. Hexham, I. To speake out alowd. Ibid., To speak half out, or mumbling.
1712. [see OUR adv. 11].
1908. R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, v. 44. Jim stared at him. ‘What did you say?’ he asked.
‘Oh, nothing! Did I speak out loud?’
b. To talk freely or unreservedly.
To speak out in meeting (U.S.), to express one’s opinions freely or openly (Thornton).
1694. T. Brown, Lottery for Ladies & G., Wks. 1711, IV. 172. Is it not as modest to speak out, as to make broad Signs, the usual Custom of maiden Ladies?
1765. G. Williams, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), I. 396. Why do not you speak out as to Lord Gower? Is he to come in or not?
1809. Med. Jrnl., XXI. 150. But with all who have the courage to speak out, a difficulty remains.
1842. Tennyson, Morte d’Arth., 150. Speak out: what is it thou hast heard, or seen?
c. To break into speech.
1792. Burns, Country Lassie, i. Out spak a dame in wrinkled eild.
d. To be apparent or evident.
1845–6. Trench, Huls. Lect., Ser. II. iii. 183. The sense of this speaks out in every arrangement.
† 18. Speak over, to say too much, to exaggerate. Obs. (Cf. OVERSPEAK v.)
1610. A. Cooke, Pope Joan, 87. If you bring not some author for the proofe of this point, you must giue me leaue to thinke you speake ouer.
1626. R. Harris, Hezekiah’s Recovery, 4. The Orator spake not over, when hee intimated, that Ingratitude was a kinde of Unjustice.
19. Speak together, to hold conference or consultation; to confer.
c. 1205. Lay., 3248. Þa ilomp hit … þat þe Scottene king & þe duk speken to gaðere.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 270. Monkes and mendynauntz … selden spoken togideres.
c. 1400. N. T. (Paues), Acts xxvi. 31. [They] wente biside ande speke togider.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 3201. Thanne spoken they to-gederes hem be-twene.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. iii. 29. He was not so resolu’d, when we last spake together.
1677. Coles, Eng.-Lat. Dict. (ed. 17), 1764. To speak together, colloquor.
1859. Tennyson, Marr. Geraint, 385. While the Prince and Earl Yet spoke together.
20. Speak up. a. To speak strongly for (= on behalf of, in defence of) a person.
1705. Hearne, Collect., 17 Oct. (O.H.S.), I. 57. I spoke up for him.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xliv. It’s all very well for you to speak up for him…. You’ll get a fortune by him.
b. To raise the voice in speaking; to talk boldly or unreservedly; to break into speech.
a. 1723. in Child, Ballads, III. 135/2. Speak up, jolly blade, never fear.
1864. Mrs. H. Wood, Trevlyn Hold, II. 226. Timid Mrs. Chattaway … spoke up to the rescue.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., i. Out he stepped to your father’s side, and spoke right up before the king.
1896. [see SPECKSIONEER].
IV. trans. 21. To articulate or utter (a word or words).
To speak not a word of, to make no mention or suggestion of. To speak a (good) word for: see WORD sb.
Beowulf, 341. Wlanc Wedera leod word æfter spræc.
971. Blickl. Hom., 31. Se forhwyrfda gast spræc forhwyrfedlice word.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), lvii. 3. Syððan … heo on life lyʓe-word spæcon.
c. 1200. Moral Ode, 9 (Trin. Coll. MS.). Fele idel word ich habbe ispeken.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4342. Ar i ga þou spek wit me a word or tua.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 243. Þou a wirschipfull worde has werpid & spoken.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. xx. 761. There they fond … A poure man sittyng in the bargets ende and no word wold he speke.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., II. 176. A sorte of the Grekes … spake many woordes of reproche by the kyng.
1611. Bible, 2 Sam. xix. 10. Why speake ye not a word of bringing the king backe?
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxii. 196. Though the mind be incapable of any Notion at all from the words spoken.
1755. B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sci., 13. I will follow, when I have spoke a Word to one of the Millers.
1806. Wordsw., Horn Egremont Castle, 87. Thou hast a dungeon, speak the word! And there he may be lodged, and thou be Lord.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, ix. Elsie followed her into the hall to speak some last words.
b. With cognate accus.: To utter, make or deliver (a speech or statement).
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxv. § 5. On ða ilcan spræce þe þu ær spræce.
c. 930. Laws Athelstane, VI. viii. § 8 (Liebermann I. 180/1). Maniʓe men specað ʓemahlice spræce.
a. 1300. K. Horn, 387. He spac faire speche.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8864. When his speche was spokyn, & sped to þe last.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 77. When you haue spoken your speech, enter into that Brake. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., V. 265. One that hath spoke most villanous speeches of the Duke.
1712. Hearne, Collect., 24 May. He desir’d that he might speak a speech publickly upon that occasion.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. i. Speeches are spoken;… audible within doors and without.
1876. ‘L. Carroll,’ Hunting the Snark, IV. vii. The rest of my speech … You shall hear when I’ve leisure to speak it.
c. Similarly with other objects denoting a word, sentence, speech, etc., uttered or recited.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23945. Spell yeit i wald spek if i cuth. Ibid. (c. 1375), 11616 (Fairf.). Þe propheci … þat spokin was of þat childe dere.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7519. Thou spak a jape not long ago … Of a young man.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 169. Some will speake Oracles, that a manne can not tell whiche waie to take them.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. v. 75. After we had embrast,… & (as it were) spoke the prologue of our Comedy.
1653. Walton, Angler, 184. I will speak you a copy of verses.
1795. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Pindariana, Wks. 1812, IV. 245. He made many quotations and spoke them with propriety.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxxii. The last sentence was spoken in a tone which made all the councillors tremble.
1861. Paley, Aeschylus (ed. 2), Choeph., 915, note. Orestes … speaks two continuous verses.
1865. Morris, Jason, III. 291. Whose name I speak not.
fig. 1599. B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., II. iii. He speakes all creame, skimd.
1634. Milton, Comus, 804. As when the wrath of Jove Speaks thunder … To som of Saturns crew.
† d. To employ (the voice) in utterance. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. x. 3. And whan he hadde cried, seuene thundres spaken her voices.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. XVIII. iv. Then thundred heav’nly sire, Then spake he his lowd voice.
22. To utter or say (something) by way of a remark or statement.
The object is freq. a pronoun, as it, this, etc., or a relative clause introduced by that (which) or what.
Beowulf, 531. Hwæt þu worn fela … ymb Brecan spræce.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 3. For oðrum ðincgum ic hit spræc ʓet swiðor.
971. Blickl. Hom., 19. Eac is to ʓeþencenne hwæt Drihten spræc.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Mark xiii. 11. Specað þæt eow on þære tide ʓe-seald bið.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1048. Eustatius … spæc wið hine þæt þæt he þa wolde.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., John xii. 50. Þa þing þe ic sprece ic speke swa se fader me saiʓde.
c. 1205. Lay., 26868. Þis wes al þus ispeken.
13[?]. Cursor M., 19115 (Gött.). Þe apostlis speckand þis and mare, Þe preistes come.
1382. Wyclif, Mark xiii. 11. Speke ȝe that thing that schal be ȝouen to ȝou in that our.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 188. What is that, that thou spekyste.
1582. Allen, Martyrdom Campion (1908), 47. He was urged … to speake what he thought of the said Bull of Pius Quintus.
1622. Fletcher, Span. Cur., V. i. I dare tell you … what I have spoken Freely behind your back.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud (1668), 378. To speak the matter in a word.
1711. Spectator, No. 192, ¶ 6. The most indifferent thing has its Force and Beauty when it is spoke by a kind Father.
1780. Mirror, No. 99. The account he gives of his own feelings … is evidently spoken in earnest.
1830. trans. Aristophanes’ Acharn., 26. Grant me yet thy pardon, if … I have spoke or triflingly uttered anything.
1871. R. Ellis, trans. Catullus, li. 2. He, if I dare speak it, ascends above them [the Gods].
b. With objective clause: To state or declare that, etc.
Beowulf, 1595. Gomele ymb godne on ʓeador spræcon, þæt hiʓ þæs æðelinges eft ne wendon [etc.].
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., III. ii. (1890), 156. Ða ʓehyrde he sumne þara broðra sprecan, þæt he wolde feran to þæm halʓan Cristes mæle.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 369. Murtherers … which spake it of theyr own mind, that Fernando Gonzage had waged them to slay Octavius.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., IV. ii. 354. The ruine speakes, that sometime It was a worthy building.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 62. Experience speaks that as times change … prises may alter.
1766. Complete Farmer, s.v., Surveying, The farmer speaks loudly, that … no more should be measured … than the plow or scythe can go over.
c. With superlative adjs. as (one’s) best, last.
a. 1631. Donne, Poems (1650), 59. Here dead men speake their last.
1876. Trevelyan, Macaulay, II. ix. 132. In the set party fights … he did not speak his best.
23. To utter or express (truth, falsehood, etc.) in words or speech.
Beowulf, 2864. Þæt la mæʓ secgan, se ðe wyle soð specan [etc.].
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter v. 7. Ðu forspildes hie ða ða spreocað leasunge. Ibid., xxvii. 3. Ða ðe spreocað sibbe mid ðone nestan.
971. Blickl. Hom., 223. He a to æʓhwylcum soð & riht sprecende wæs.
c. 1000. Lambeth Ps. cxliii. 8. Þara muð specende wæs idelnesse.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 82. Ful speche is as of lecherie,… þæt unweaschene muðes spekeð oðer hwule.
13[?]. Deo Gratias, 68, in E. E. P. (1862), 126. Þenne i rede þou rule þe so Þat Men may speke worschupe bi þe.
1382. Wyclif, Jude 16. The mouth of hem spekith pride.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7514. For it is better stille be, Than for to speken harme.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. viii. 425. Alle knyghtes speken of hym worship.
1535. Coverdale, Eph. iv. 15. Speake euery man the trueth vnto his neghboure.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. i. 129. Beleeue it (Page) he speakes sence.
1646. Crashaw, Steps to Temple, 85. O ’tis not Spanish, but ’tis heaven she speakes.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 35, ¶ 1. If they speak Nonsense, they believe they are talking Humour.
a. 1766. Mrs. F. Sheridan, Nourjahad (1767), 179. Nothing is more certain … than that Cozro has spoke the truth.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, xii. My cousin Ellieslaw, who speaks treason as if it were a child’s nursery rhymes.
1841. Browning, Pippa Passes, Poems (1905), 169. Do you think I fear to speak the bare truth once for all?
24. With preps.: To utter or direct (words, remarks, etc.) against, to (also † on, upon, etc.) a person. Also fig.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter cviii. 20. Ða ðe spreocað yfel [L. mala] wið sawle minre.
c. 1000. Lambeth Ps. cviii. 20. Þa þe specaþ yfelu toʓeanes sawle mine.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 13. Ne spec þu aȝein þine nexta nane false witnesse.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xxvii. 4. Þat spekes pees to neghburgh hisse.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16495. Þai … sal on me tresun spek.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 63. Forto … destroie þat kynde, þat ouht to him couth speke.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lxxxiv. 8. He shal speake peace vnto his people. Ibid., cviii. 20. Those that speake euell agaynst my soule.
1547. Homilies, I. Contention, T j b. To suffre euery man to speake vpon me what thei list.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 21. Men Can … speake comfort to that griefe, Which they themselues not feele. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., V. i. 129. For certaine words he spake against your Grace In your retirment.
1821. Wordsw., Eccl. Sonnets, III. ii. Last night … that Vision spake Fear to my Soul.
1838. [I. Williams], Cathedral, 144. Love … Speaks peace to fall’n humanity.
25. To declare in words; to make known by speech; to tell (of).
To speak one’s mind: see MIND sb.1 9 a.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter xvi. 4. Dætte … ne sprece muð min wirc monna. Ibid., lxxvii. 2. Ic spreocu foresetenisse from fruman weorulde.
c. 1000. Lambeth Ps. cxliv. 11. Wuldor rices þines hi cweðaþ … & mihte þine hi specaþ.
c. 1200. Ormin, 12965. Forr þatt he wollde beldenn hemm To spekenn þeȝȝre nede.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24074. Þat es na tung mai speke wit word … Hu þat vt stur was strang.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. ii. 7. We speken the wysdom of God, that is hid in mysterie.
1513. Bk. Keruynge, A iv. Than serue ye forth the table manerly, yt euery man may speke your curtesy.
1595. Shaks., John, III. i. 39. What other harme haue I … done, But spoke the harme that is by others done?
1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., II. i. Here’s one,… saies hee is newly returned from Ostend, and has some businesse of import to speake.
1693. Prior, C’tess Exeter playing on Lute, 17. Your Art no other Art can speak.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 40–1. You have, in a few words, spoke the whole of the matter.
1812. Crabbe, Tales, iv. 279. Speak, then, my fate.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. III. iii. Bound to speak his opinion.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, II. ii. I spoke my business.
b. To state or declare in writing, etc.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 43. Þis is nu ðe uorme dole, þet ich habbe ispeken hiderto, of ower seruise.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. x. 51. The firste of the iij. opiniouns spoken and sett forth … in the first chapiter.
1562. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 4. Albeit the time be schort, sumthing of ȝour prais man we speik.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, III. iii. 127. Of the West, I cannot speake any thing certaine or generall.
1672. in E. B. Jupp, Carpenters’ Co. (1887), 305. The said Statute … makes no mencion at all nor speakes a tittle of a Joyner.
a. 1763. W. King, Polit. & Lit. Anecd. (1819), 121. I speak this upon a supposition that Bing [sic] was justly put to death.
1849. Rock, Ch. of Fathers, I. viii. (1903), III. 45. The monument itself, with its little chantry altar,… speaks what was his belief while here.
c. transf. Of musical instruments: To announce, indicate or proclaim by sound.
1702. Rowe, Tamerl., I. i. 120. These Trumpets speak his Presence.
1781. Cowper, Anti-Thelyphthora, 161. The trumpet now spoke Marmadan at hand.
1837. A. Tennent, Force Imag., 7. In mournful plaints of sorrow now It [sc. the pibroch] speaks the battle’s close.
26. To use as a language; to talk.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7539. Þe normans … speke french as hii dude atom.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 345. Þis Gaythelus kouþe speke many langages and tonges.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 22. [He] coude wele speke the langage of Grece and of Latyne.
1530. Palsgr., 727/1. They speke a pedlars frenche amongest them selfe.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 596. Welsh and English speaking both languages.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xvi. (1840), 281. Can they speak Dutch?
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitland Club), 204. The collonell … has been over all Europe, and speaks all the languages.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 225. He knew no language but the English, as it was spoken by the common people.
1910. Haverfield, in Encycl. Brit., IV. 587/1. By this time the town populations … spoke Latin.
† 27. a. To make mention of (a person); to speak of or mention in a certain way; to commend (one) to another. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2390. Princes oueral aboute of ech kinedom Speke him vuel & hated him.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12005. Sum him loued and spack o prise.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andrew), 975. For men will lichtly spek þe ill.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. x. 203. The King … whom the lesson of prophetis hath bifore spokun.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., IV. ii. 32. Yet thus farre Griffith, giue me leaue to speake him, And yet with Charity.
1618. Sir D. Carleton, Lett. (1775), 259. Who they [the ambassadors] shall be, is not yet fully determined; but count Ernest of Nassau is chiefly spoken.
a. 1657. Loveday, Lett. (1663), 58. I pray speak me to her in the best Language of affection.
† b. To assign or dedicate. Obs.–1
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. ii. All these thynges the whiche be spoken and consecrate unto god.
† c. To bespeak or order. Obs.
1508. Stanbridge, Vulgaria (W. de W.), B v. I haue spoken a payre of shone agaynst sondaye.
† d. To use as a term or phrase. Obs.–1
1579. E. K., Gloss. Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., April, 118. A beauie of Ladyes, is spoken figuratiuely for a company or troupe.
28. To indicate, denote or betoken; to reveal, make known.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., I. 438. Lord Titus...: Whose fury not dissembled speakes his griefes. Ibid. (1608), Per., I. iii. 14. His seal’d commission, left in trust with me, Doth speak sufficiently he’s gone to travel.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., II. ii. § 7. Two things speak much the wisdom of a Nation; good Laws, and a prudent management of them.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. x. 100. Some Porches and broken Pillars I have seen, that speak their ancient Grandeur.
1770. Goldsm., Des. Vill., 122. The loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., I. lxxvi. Loud bellowings speak his woes.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Land. The solidity of the structures … speaks the industry of ages.
refl. 1850. Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., v. (1872), 166. William the Silent spake himself best in a country liberated.
b. Of the countenance, eyes, etc.: To indicate or manifest by expression.
To speak daggers: see DAGGER sb. 3 b.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, I. iii. 185. Thine eies See it so grosely showne in thy behaviours, That in their kinde they speake it.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., lxxiii. His face spake hope, while deep his Sorrows flow.
1792. Burns, Duncan Gray, iv. And oh! hier een, they spak’ sic things!
1820. Keats, Isabella, v. If looks speak love-laws, I will drink her tears.
1859. J. Watson, Bards Border, 78. Her look spoke affection.
† c. refl. Of things: To be self-evident. Obs. (Cf. 10 c.)
1689. Popple, trans. Locke’s 1st Let. Toleration, L.’s Wks. 1727, II. 244. Let us apply the last Case … and the Thing speaks itself.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, iii. Argt., The Story of this Satyr speaks it self.
29. To manifest or show (a person, thing, etc.) to be or do a certain thing, or to possess a certain quality or character. Const. with simple complement or with to be. Now arch.
(a) 1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 159. Sundry Blessings hang about his Throne, That speake him full of Grace.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., xxiii. Men quit the open air, When Thunder speaks the angry Gods abroad.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 75, ¶ 3. His whole Person is finely turned, and speaks him a Man of Quality.
1796–7. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej. (1813), 139. A sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in confusion.
(b) 1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. State, II. viii. 79. Which speaks his judgement to be better then his invention.
a. 1701. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 137. This speaks it self to have been part of some very August Pile.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. xi. 209. Each of which [varieties] … speaks the kind seldom to have mixed with any other.
1808. Helen St. Victor, Ruins of Rigonda, II. 156. His graceful carriage … spoke him to be a person very different from what his plain garb might naturally denote.
1821. Scott, Pirate, xxii. His acquaintance with the English language … plainly spoke him to be an Englishman.
b. To term or call; to describe as. rare.
1617. Fletcher, Valentinian, V. viii. Mays’t thou live ever spoken our Protector.
1825. Scott, Talism., xiv. Report speaks thee one unlikely to return thus from fight.
c. To describe (a person). Now arch.
1623. B. Jonson, Underwoods, Celebr. Charis, viii. Make account,… And that quickly, speak your Man.
1662. Cokaine, Trag. Ovid, III. i. You mistake me, I cannot speak her to her merit.
1703. Rowe, Ulyss., I. i. But be it as it may; it speaks you well.
1780. Cowper, Progr. Error, 460. How shall I speak thee, or thy pow’r address, Thou god of our idolatry, the press?
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxix. Thou hast spoken the Jew,… as the persecution of such as thou art has made him.
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 154. To speak him true,… No keener hunter after glory breathes.
30. To express or signify. Now rare.
To speak volumes: see VOLUME sb.
1645. Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 32. Ram-horns speak not taking of towns in an ordinary providence.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 200. And they were so ready to make World speak seculum, that where we give a much unlike meaning, they still hold to it.
1875. E. White, Life in Christ, II. ix. (1876), 102. Men have compelled the narrative to speak a meaning contrary to its intention.
31. a. To send to, to cause to pass or enter into (another state, condition or position) by speaking. Also refl. and with adj. complement.
1684. Brook, Precious Remedies, 5. God can speak or nod you to hell in a moment.
1696. Brookhouse, Temple Opened, Pref. A iv. So Now, the same WORD … comes to speak the Ataxy or Irregularities of the Four Monarchies into … an Harmonious Frame.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 256. He will be found … Too just to wink, or speak the guilty clear.
1814. Scott, Lord of Isles, IV. xxii. That glance, if guilty, would I dread More than the doom that spoke me dead!
1820. A. A. Watts, in Wiffen, Aonian Hours (ed. 2), p. x. With gratitude thy bosom swelleth To him—who spoke them into birth!
1833. New Monthly Mag., XXXVII. 356. He spoke himself into the Common Council.
† b. To create by speaking. Obs.–1 (Cf. 35 c.)
1735. S. Wesley, Hymn, ‘The Lord of Sabbath,’ iv. ’Twas great to speak the World from Nought, ’Twas greater to redeem.
V. 32. To talk or converse with; to address.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xii. 46. Soecende spreca him [L. loqui ei].
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3400. Ðo cam ietro to moysen, To speken him and ðo kinnes-men.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Grail, liv. 28. Welcome … ȝe be, longe haue I desired ȝow to speken & se.
1561. in Maitl. Cl. Misc., III. 290. He wald cum to þar chalmer and speik tham.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, VIII. 140. Thus Hector comforts vp his mates, and speaks his horse.
c. 1690. Kirkton, Hist. Ch. Scot., viii. (1817), 330. The two brethren went and spoke the Lord Stair.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack, ix. What do you want to speak with the great master? He can’t be spoke by you.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, VI. xxvi. Like him of whom the story ran, Who spoke the spectre-hound in Man.
1852. Bailey, Festus (ed. 4), 331. Speaking him In that instinctive Paradisal tongue.
b. To communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea, by signal, speaking-trumpet, etc. Cf. 16 b.
1792. Maria Riddell, Voy. Madeira, 20. We spoke several East Indiamen.
1793. Nelson, 11 Oct., in Nicholas, Disp. (1845), I. 331. Yesterday I spoke a Ship from Gibraltar.
1816. Tuckey, Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, i. (1818), 10. We saw several vessels, but spoke none.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxv. She hove-to for us, seeing that we wished to speak her.
1885. Times (weekly ed.), 18 Sept., 14/2. A service of swift yawls … to run out and speak the fishing boats.
transf. 1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxxix. Two or three stragglers … ‘spoke him’—so the captain entered it—on the subject of spectacles.
33. To speak (one) fair, to address (a person) courteously or kindly. (Cf. FAIR adv. 2.)
c. 1375. Cursor M., 6836 (Fairf.). Speke ham faire wiþ þi mouþe.
1533. More, Apol., 71 b. I am content to … geue them no wors wordes agayn then yf they speke me fayre.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, E iij b. They thought it good to … speake him faire while their feete were in his mouth.
1690. Dryden, Amphitryon, II. ii. Thou wouldst have a woman of the town … to be always speaking my husband fair!
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxiii. I spoke the wretch fair; I appeared to confide in her.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., i. He was worth speaking fair, if it was only to keep him from doing you a mischief.
fig. 1669. Dryden, Tyrannic Love, IV. i. Heaven speaks me fair.
b. With other advs.
1871. Browning, Balaust., 1562. If thou speak us ill Many a true and ill thing shalt thou hear!
1872. Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 470. Lancelot ever spake him pleasantly.
VI. With advs. in special senses.
† 34. Speak forth, to utter, declare, proclaim.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xiii. 35. I wyll … speake forth thinges whych have bene kepte secrete from the begynnynge off the worlde.
1611. Bible, Acts xxvi. 25. I … speake foorth the words of trueth and sobernesse.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 191. It would not … more fully speak forth its boundlessness.
1730. Bailey (fol.), To Utter, to pronounce or speak forth.
35. Speak out (cf. 17). a. To utter; to make known in words; to declare openly or clearly.
1382. Wyclif, Acts xxvi. 25. I speke out the wordus of treuthe and sobrenesse.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 468/1. Spekyn owte, exprimo.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. x. 339. That he meened so myche bi hise … wordis, thouȝ he not alle hem out spake.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 545. ’Tis well, Ile haue thee speake out the rest, soone.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, II. clxiv. (1702), 24. I’ll make his Dumbness find a Tongue To speak out his imposture.
1676. [see MIND sb.1 9 a].
1815. Scott, Guy M., xii. You will often hear it mentioned…. I will therefore speak it out.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, II. xxi. 209. I have no right … to hear him speak out his heart, and tell it to any friend.
1889. Jessopp, Coming of Friars, i. 42. Henry … spoke out his mind and showed that he was not too well-pleased.
b. Of things: To declare, manifest, etc.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., II. iv. 140. If thy rare qualities … could speake thee out.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 175. Now what do all these things speak out, but the certainty and reality of Christ’s manhood?
1715. Chappelow, Right Way to be Rich (1717), 52. He is the highest bidder, and this speaks him out to be the greatest merchant.
c. poet. To create by speaking, rare. (Cf. 31 b.)
1635–56. Cowley, Davideis, I. 783. They sung how God spoke out the worlds vast ball.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile, 1055. I am the spirit of the harmless earth. God spake me softly out among the stars.
d. To talk out (see TALK v. 9).
1893. Westm. Gaz., 30 March, 2/3. He spoke with the obvious intention of speaking out the Bill.
36. Comb. Speak-a-word room, Sc. (see quots.); speak-easy, U.S. slang, a saloon where liquor is sold without license; † speak-room, = SPEAK-HOUSE 1; † speak-truth, one who tells the truth.
1614. R. Tailor, Hog hath lost Pearl, in Dodsley, O. Pl. (1780), VI. 427. But I do trouble thee too much, therefore Good Speak-truth, farewel.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitland Club), 175. They [nuns] said they never wore it but when they came to the speak-room.
1825. Jamieson, Suppl., Speak-a-Word-Room, a parlour.
1839. Chambers, Tour Holland, 23/1. Then we were whirled down again into a little speak-a-word room.
1889. Voice (N.Y.), 14 Nov. Hundreds of unlicensed dealers in both cities continued to run under the names of clubs’ and ‘speak-easies.’
