# beg

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈbɛɡ/ · frequency rank #6,544

## Definitions
1. To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.
2. To plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreat.
3. To unwillingly provoke a negative, often violent, reaction.
4. To obviously lack or be in need of something.
5. In the phrase beg the question: to assume.
6. In the phrase beg the question: to raise (a question).
7. To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English beggen, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old English *becgian, *bedcian, syncopated forms of bedecian (“to beg”), itself of obscure origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic *bedukōn, a frequentative verb derived from Proto-West Germanic *bedu (“plea, petition, prayer”, whence English bead). Alternatively from Proto-West Germanic *bedagō (“petitioner, requester, beggar”), an agent noun from the same source. Compare North Frisian bēdagi (“to pray”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌲𐍅𐌰 (bidagwa, “beggar”). All ultimately from the root of English bid, which see for more. An alternative theory considers the verb a backformation from beggar and derives the latter from Old French begart (“kind of lay brother”).

## Easily confused with
- **by** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-by)
- **bi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bi)
- **BS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bs)
- **bo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bo)
- **br** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-br)
- **Bt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bt)
- **BP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bp)
- **bf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bf)
- **BL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bl)
- **BM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bm)
- **bn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bn)
- **BG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bg)
- **BJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bj)
- **BW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bw)
- **BH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bh)
- **BX** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bx)
- **but** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-but)
- **big** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-big)
- **bit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-bit)
- **buy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beg-vs-buy)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/beg