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Antonyms for ask
| Grammar : Verb |
| Spell : ask, ahsk |
| Phonetic Transcription : æsk, ɑsk |
Definition of ask
Origin :- Old English ascian "ask, call for an answer; make a request," from earlier ahsian, from Proto-Germanic *aiskojan (cf. Old Saxon escon, Old Frisian askia "request, demand, ask," Middle Dutch eiscen, Dutch eisen "to ask, demand," Old High German eiscon "to ask (a question)," German heischen "to ask, demand"), from PIE *ais- "to wish, desire" (cf. Sanskrit icchati "seeks, desires," Armenian aic "investigation," Old Church Slavonic iskati "to seek," Lithuanian ieškau "to seek").
- Form in English influenced by a Scandinavian form of the word (cf. Danish æske; the Old English would have evolved by normal sound changes into ash, esh, which was a Midlands and s.w. England dialect form). Modern dialectal ax is as old as Old English acsian and was an accepted literary variant until c.1600. Related: Asked; asking. Old English also had fregnan/frignan which carried more directly the sense of "question, inquire," and is from PIE root *prek-, the common source of words for "ask" in most Indo-European languages (see pray). If you ask me "in my opinion" is attested from 1910. Asking price is attested from 1755.
- verb question
- verb request
- verb invite
- Look out you don't get mixed up in it yourself, that's all I ask.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Ask the young noble, who has been to him as a father; and his response will be 'Anaxagoras.'
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- Ask the poor fisherman at the gates, who has been to him as a brother; and he will answer 'Anaxagoras.'
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- I have another favour to ask, in addition to the many claims you already have upon me.
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- Mr. Davis, may I ask the favor of a few minutes' conversation with you in private?
- Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
- But I kept looking and after awhile I was able to sit up and ask what hit me.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Now don't get suspicious, and tell me to mind my own business when I ask you questions.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Stop her—say Miss Milbrey wishes to ask a favour of her; and Jarvis.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- Only Ambrose was, at parting for the night, obliged to ask him for the key of the gate.
- Extract from : « The Armourer's Prentices » by Charlotte M. Yonge
- He must go and humbly he must ask for the loan of a small sum of money.
- Extract from : « Ancient Man » by Hendrik Willem van Loon
Synonyms for ask
- angle
- appeal
- apply
- beg
- beseech
- bid
- bite
- bum
- buzz
- call for
- call upon
- canvass
- catechize
- challenge
- charge
- claim
- command
- contend for
- crave
- cross-examine
- demand
- direct
- enjoin
- entreat
- examine
- file for
- give the third degree
- go over
- grill
- hit
- hunt for
- hustle
- implore
- impose
- inquire
- institute
- interrogate
- investigate
- knock
- levy
- mooch
- needle
- order
- petition
- pick one's brains
- plead
- pop the question
- pray
- promote
- propose
- pry into
- pump
- put the screws to
- put through the wringer
- query
- quiz
- request
- requisition
- roast
- seek
- solicit
- sue
- suggest
- summon
- supplicate
- sweat
- touch
- urge
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019