entreat

From Anglo-Norman entretier, from Old French entraiter, from en- + traiter.

• Rhymes: -iːt

entreat (plural entreats)

1. Alternative form of entreaty
   • 2006, Khaled Abou El Fadl, The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 236:

     In the Muslim world, the most compelling and decisive books are those full of confessions written on the flesh of victims, and the most earnest prayers are the entreats for mercy screamed in pain and anguish at the tormentors and flesh and thought.

entreat (third-person singular simple present entreats, present participle entreating, simple past and past participle entreated)

1. (obsolete) To treat, or conduct toward; to deal with; to use.
   • 1597, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King Richard the Second

     Fairly let her be entreated.

   • 1611 King James Bible, Jeremiah xv. 11

     I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well.

2. To treat with, or in respect to, a thing desired; hence, to ask earnestly; to beseech; to petition or pray with urgency; to supplicate; to importune.
   • 1623, William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona

     If you be she, I doe intreat your patience.

   • '1845, Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven

     some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door

3. To beseech or supplicate (a person); to prevail upon by prayer or solicitation; to try to persuade.
   • 1789, John Rogers, The Nature and Influence of the Fear of God (sermon)

     It were a fruitless attempt to appease a power whom no prayers could entreat.

   • 1847, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, Chapter XVIII

     “But I cannot persuade her to go away, my lady,” said the footman; “nor can any of the servants. Mrs. Fairfax is with her just now, entreating her to be gone; but she has taken a chair in the chimney-comer, and says nothing shall stir her from it till she gets leave to come in here.”

   • 1937, Frank Churchill and Leigh Harline, “One Song”, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney:

     One heart / Tenderly beating / Ever entreating / Constant and true

4. (obsolete) To invite; to entertain.
   • (Can we date this quote by Spenser?)

     pleasures to entreat

5. (obsolete) To treat or discourse; hence, to enter into negotiations, as for a treaty.
   • (Can we date this quote by Hakewill?)

     of which I shall have further occasion to entreat

   • 1611 King James Bible, 1 Maccabees x. 47

     Alexander […] was first that entreated of true peace with them.

6. (obsolete) To make an earnest petition or request.
   • (Can we date this quote by Knolles?)

     The Janizaries entreated for them as valiant men.

• Arnette, Ternate, ratteen, ternate