Bespeak

Be·speak

Bespeak

v. t.

imp. Bespoke; p. p. Bespoke; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespeaking

  1. To speak or arrange for beforehand; to order or engage against a future time; as, to bespeak goods, a right, or a favor. (Archaic)
    Concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favor.
  2. To show beforehand; to foretell; to indicate.
    [They] bespoke dangers . . . in order to scare the allies.
  3. To betoken; to show; to indicate by external marks or appearances.
    When the abbot of St. Martin was born, he had so little the figure of a man that it bespoke him rather a monster.
  4. To speak to; to address. [Poetic]
    He thus the queen bespoke.

Bespeak

v. i.
  1. To speak. [Obs.]

Bespeak

n.
  1. A bespeaking. Among actors, a benefit (when a particular play is bespoken.)