beg

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English beggen, of uncertain origin, possibly from Old English *becgian, *bedcian, syncopated variants of bedecian (“to beg”), itself of obscure origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *bedukōn, a frequentative verb derived from Proto-West Germanic *bedu (“petition, plea”). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *bedagō, from Proto-Germanic *bedagô (“petitioner; requestor; beggar”), from *bedą, *bedō (“prayer; request”). Compare North Frisian bēdagi (“to pray”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (bidagwa, “beggar”), Old English biddan (“to ask”). More at bid, bead. See also Norwegian Bokmål be (“to beg, ask”).

verb

1. (intransitive) To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.
   He begged on the street corner from passers-by.
2. (transitive) To plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreat.
   I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to cause offence.
   He begged her to go to the prom with him.
3. (transitive) To unwillingly provoke a negative, often violent, reaction.
   The way you keep eating raw meat, you're just begging to get tapeworms.
4. (transitive) In the phrase beg the question: to assume.
5. (transitive, proscribed) In the phrase beg the question: to raise (a question).
6. (transitive, law, obsolete) To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for.
   Else some will beg thee, in the court of wards. a. 1612, John Harington, Epigrams

noun

1. The act of begging; an imploring request.
   “Lord,” I prayed, “it's a long time since I came to You for anything besides a quick beg for help. And it seems every time I come to You I'm asking something bigger, more impossible. But I'm here again. […] 2008, Cathy Gohlke, William Henry is a Fine Name/I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires Set

Etymology 2

From Ottoman Turkish بك (beg).

noun

1. A provincial governor under the Ottoman Empire; a bey.

Etymology 3

noun

1. (knitting) Abbreviation of beginning.
   Knit with MC until work measures 3 inches from beg. 2005, DRG Dynamic Resource, Big Book of Knit Hats & Scarves for Everyone, House of White Birches, page 34