entreat etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: entreter, from Old French: entreter, entraiter, from Medieval Latin: intertractare ("to treat, to handle")
• inter ("between") + tractare ("to treat")

Meaning:

To beg earnestly or urgently; to plead fervently and repeatedly.

Origin:

The word "entreat" originated in the 14th century, derived from the Middle English term "entreter." In Old French, "entreter" had the literal meaning of "to hold between" or "to handle," which was extended figuratively in Middle English to mean "to treat or discuss."

Over time, the sense of "treat" evolved into the more specific meaning of "to beg or plead earnestly." This usage can be traced back to the early 15th century, where it was used in the context of making requests or asking for favors.

The word is related to the English word "tract" (a piece of writing), which also derives from tractare. This connection reflects the idea that entreating involves trying to persuade or move someone through words and arguments.

entreat relate terms

• treat

  Etymology The word treat comes from the Middle English word treten meaning to handl

• tract

  Etymology The word tract comes from the Latin tractus meaning a drawn line a stre

• entreaty

  Etymology Middle English entraite from Old French entraite Old French from Latin ent

• entreat

  Etymology Middle English entreter from Old French entreter entraiter from Medieval

• ensure

  Etymology The word ensure comes from the Old French word en seür which means to m

• insure

  Etymology Middle English assurer Anglo French asseurer Old French asseürer Late Lat

• beseech

  Etymology Old French beseschier Late Latin besecius Medieval Latin besechius V

• adjure

  Etymology Old French ajorer Latin adjurare Proto Indo European ad dʰeh₁ dʰeh

• pray

  Etymology The word pray originates from the Old English word gebed which in turn com

• imprecation

  Etymology The word imprecation comes from the Latin word imprecātiónem accusative

• suppliant

  Etymology Late Middle English from Middle French suppliant present participle of supp

• arrogate

  Etymology From Middle English arrogaten from Old French aro g uer from Late Latin arr

• press

  Etymology The word press originates from the Old French word presse which in turn c

• conjure

  Etymology Latin conjuro meaning to swear to bind by oath Proto Indo European root

• pedal

  Etymology The word pedal comes from the Latin word pedalis which means of the foot