Ain't too Proud to Beg!

The word "please" can only get you so far. Luckily, there is a very big lexicon of words that help us ask for favors. Ranging from blatant behavior fawning over the person who can aid us (obsequious) to earnest requests made of a ruler or deity ( beseech), there is no limit to the vocabulary describing our situation when we need something from someone else. Here are some words for when you find yourself in this predicament, because "with sugar on top" isn't going to work forever.
15 words 788 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. implore
    beg or request earnestly and urgently
    Michele Gilmer implored the jury to hold the couple accountable for "telling the same lie over and over again."
    —Los Angeles Times Jul 17, 2014
    From the Latin implorare, which meant "invoke with weeping."
  2. beseech
    ask for or request earnestly
    “Please, I am begging you,” she beseeched the commander, a silent man who had descended from a military transport truck.
    —New York Times Mar 3, 2014
    From Middle English elements be, in this case probably an intensifier, and secen "to seek."
  3. entreat
    ask for or request earnestly
    She has obviously considered the argument that Lady Macbeth, who entreats her husband to kill the king and seize power, is rotten to the core.
    —The Guardian Jun 19, 2013
    From Old French, entraiter, which meant "to treat". The English word didn't take on its current meaning of "implore" until the early 16th Century.
  4. adjure
    ask for or request earnestly
    On the conclusion of his discourse he adjured them: “Repent, then, all ye who have been contaminated.
    —Henry Charles Lea
    From Late Latin, made from the elements ad- "to", and iurare "to swear", as in swearing an oath.
  5. prostrate
    lying face downward
    I attended their funerals, weddings and prayer ceremonies where they prostrated themselves before their god, asking for a reprieve from another conflict.
    —Newsweek
    From Latin prostratus "to strew in front or throw down."
  6. solicit
    request urgently or persistently
    Politicians who solicit donations for campaigns, but then use the money for personal benefit, undermine public confidence in the integrity of elected officials.
    —Washington Times Aug 26, 2014
    In the early 1400s, this word, which can be traced to Latin solicitare meant " to disturb, trouble, harass or provoke." It was not until the 1520s that the word took on its current sense of "entreat" or "petition."
  7. importune
    beg persistently and urgently
    She refuses to cooperate, despite their importuning that she mustn’t give up.
    —New York Times Mar 31, 2014
    From the Latin importunus "unfit, troublesome", the etymology of this word really emphasizes the pesky, annoying nature of the one asking for help.
  8. supplicate
    ask for humbly or earnestly, as in prayer
    Mr. Roberts's wife and children went before congress and on their knees supplicated for mercy, but in vain.
    —James H. Stark
    From Latin supplicatus, which is the past participle of supplicare " plead humbly, beseech, kneel down."
  9. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    "But we saw him humbling himself with people who are suffering, and I think he is providing a huge consolation to the South Korean public."
    —US News Aug 16, 2014
    The Latin source humilis, "lowly, humble" literally means "on the ground" from humus "earth",which is a good association to have with the verb form, where one humbles oneself before another, usually while asking for help.
  10. petition
    a formal request that something be submitted to an authority
    More controversially, he successfully petitioned the U.S. government for protective tariffs on imported Chinese furniture, alienating many of his retailer customers.
    —Washington Times Aug 20, 2014
    From Latin petitionem, which had many meanings, the relevant one being " a seeking, a searching."
  11. impel
    urge or force to an action; constrain or motivate
    Will is a child's motive force: it impels a child from within, whereas obedience compels a child from without.
    —The Guardian May 4, 2013
    From Latin impellere " to push, strike against, drive forward, urge on."
  12. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
    Maybe your obsequious staff laughing at your every quip makes you think you are hilarious.
    —The Guardian July 16, 2013
    The sense of obsequious as meaning "compliant" and " obedient" comes directly from its Latin parts: ob- "after" and sequi "follow". This meaning was noted in the late 15th century, while the above definition is not recorded until the late 16th century.
  13. orison
    reverent petition to a deity
    While chanting the funeral prayers and orisons of the Church, the natives, from a safe distance, shouted derisively and danced to celebrate their treason.
    —Samuel Adams Drake
    This word may seem obscure, but it is the same, etymologically speaking, as a more familiar word, oration. The difference between the two words is that oration comes directly from the Latin oratio while orison takes its form from the later Old French stage the Latin passed through. The Old French provides the "s" in orison with oreisun.
  14. intercession
    a prayer to God on behalf of another person
    Believers in intercession say the living can pray to a dead saint to ask God to help them.
    —Reuters Jul 4, 2012
    From Latin intercessionem "a going between."
  15. invocation
    the act of appealing for help
    In Michigan, some communities report that they have used an invocation or prayer at their council or board meeting, according to the Michigan Municipal League.
    —Washington Times Jun 11, 2014
    From Latin invocare " to call upon, invoke, appeal to."
Created on Sat Aug 23 19:03:32 EDT 2014 (updated Tue Aug 26 15:09:29 EDT 2014)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.