entreaty

Definition

The act of entreating or beseeching; a strong petition; pressing solicitation; begging.

Etymology

From entreat + -y.

Example Sentences

• "1779, William Ward, An Essay on Grammar as it may be applied to the English Language, New Edition, page 202, In all commands or entreaties, the ſtate commanded, or entreated, muſt be contingent; i. e. capable of being, or not being, as the command or entreaty expreſſes it."
• "She gathered many of the stones which I built into the walls of the hut; also, she turned a deaf ear to my entreaties when I begged her to desist."
• "1964 October, P. F. Strawson, Intention and Convention in Speech Acts, The Philosophical Review, Volume 73, Number 4, page 444, We can readily imagine circumstances in which an utterance of the words "Don't go" would be correctly described not as a request or an order, but as an entreaty."

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