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bespeak (v.)

Old English besprecan "speak about, speak against, complain," from be- + sprecan "to speak" (see speak (v.)). A common Germanic compound (cognates: Old Saxon bisprecan, Dutch bespreken, Old High German bisprehhan, German besprechen); originally "to call out," it evolved a wide range of meaning in English, including "speak up," "oppose," "request," "discuss, "arrange," and "to order (goods)" (1580s).

The connection of the senses is very loose; some of them appear to have arisen quite independently of each other from different applications of BE- pref. [OED]

Related: Bespeaking; bespoke.

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Definitions of bespeak from WordNet

bespeak (v.)
be a signal for or a symptom of;
Synonyms: betoken / indicate / point / signal
bespeak (v.)
express the need or desire for;
Synonyms: request / ask for / call for / quest
From wordnet.princeton.edu