Ask

v. t. [imp. & p. p. ASKED; p. pr. & vb. n. ASK-ING.] [O. Eng. asche, ace, A-S. ascian, acsian, acsigan, acian, acigean, L. Sax. esken, O. H. Ger. eiscon, Icel. aeskja, Sw. aeska, Dan. aeske, D. eischen, Ger. heischen; Skr. ish, to desire.] 1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; — with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed, or for before the thing desired. Ask counsel of God. Judg. xviii. 5. 2. To require, demand, expect, or claim, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask? To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke xii. 48. An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity. Addison. 3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about. He is of age; ask him. John ix. 21. He asked the way to Chester. Shak. 4. To require or make claim of. Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12. Syn. — To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See BEG.