Beg \Beg\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begged; p. pr. & vb. n. Begging.]

[OE. beggen, perh. fr. AS. bedecian (akin to Goth. bedagwa beggar), biddan to ask. (Cf. Bid, v. t.); or cf. beghard, beguin.]

1. To ask earnestly for; to entreat or supplicate for; to beseech.

I do beg your good will in this case. --Shak.

[Joseph] begged the body of Jesus. --Matt. xxvii. 58.

Note: Sometimes implying deferential and respectful, rather than earnest, asking; as, I beg your pardon; I beg leave to disagree with you.

2. To ask for as a charity, esp. to ask for habitually or from house to house.

Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. --Ps. xxxvii. 25.

3. To make petition to; to entreat; as, to beg a person to grant a favor.

4. To take for granted; to assume without proof.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)