Ask \Ask\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Asking.]
[OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. [=a]scian,
[=a]csian; akin to OS. [=e]sc[=o]n, OHG. eisc[=o]n, Sw.
[=a]ska, Dan. [ae]ske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith.
j["e]sk['o]ti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire.
[root]5.]
1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to
solicit; -- often with of, in the sense of from, before
the person addressed.
Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God. --Judg. xviii.
5.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye
shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you. --John xv. 7.
2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of
remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as,
what price do you ask?
Ask me never so much dowry. --Gen. xxxiv.
12.
To whom men have committed much, of him they will
ask the more. --Luke xii.
48.
An exigence of state asks a much longer time to
conduct a design to maturity. --Addison.
3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a
question to or about; to question.
He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
--John ix. 21.
He asked the way to Chester. --Shak.
4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.
5. To publish in church for marriage; -- said of both the
banns and the persons. --Fuller.
Syn: To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat;
beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim;
exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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