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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Speak

Spēak, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. SPOKE (SPAKE, nearly obsolete); p. p. SPOKEN (SPOKE, colloq. or rare); p. pr. & vb. n. SPEAKING.] [A-S. sprecan, spreocan, specan, L. Ger. & D. spreken, Sw. språka, sprákas, O. H. Ger. sprehhan, N. H. Ger. sprechen.]

Sense 1. To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so obstructed, that a man may not be able to speak.

Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. 1 Sam. iii. 9.

Sense 2. To express opinions; to talk; to converse; to dispute.

An honest man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when the knave is not. Shak.

Sense 3. To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to utter thoughts in a public assembly; as, a man may be well informed on a subject, and yet too diffident to speak in public.

Many of the nobility made themselves popular by speaking in Parliament against those things which were most grateful to his majesty. Clarendon.

Sense 4. To discourse; to make mention.

Lucan speaks of a part of Cæsar's army that came to him from the Leman Lake. Addison.

Sense 5. To give sound; to sound.

Make all your trumpets speak. Shak.

To speak with, to converse with; as, let me speak with my son. — To speak well for, to be a commendatory or favorable indication of.

Synonyms— To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce.

Spēak, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately, as human beings. They sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him. Job ii. 13. Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Matt. viii. 8. 2. To declare; to proclaim; to celebrate. It is my father's music To speak your deeds. Shak. Report speaks you a bonny monk. W. Scott.

  1. To talk or converse in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation; as, to speak Latin.
  2. To address; to accost.

He will smile upon thee, put thee in hope, and speak thee fair. Ecclus. 5. To exhibit; to make known. Let heaven's wide circuit speak The Maker's high magnificence. Milton.

  1. To express silently, or by signs.
  2. To communicate; as, to speak peace to the troubled soul.

To speak a ship (Naut.), to hail and speak to her captain or commander.