We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BESEEK, BESEIK, v. To beseech, entreat. [bɪ′sik]Sc.(E) 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xxxviii. 3:
Hae min' now, O Lord, I beseik thee, how I airted my gate afore ye, in truth ay an' wi' a aefauld heart.Sc. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae the French 24:
I'se help beseik; it's but a len' she'll ken, Whan simmer comes, she'll get her ain again.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xix.:
Jenny Brockie had to come ben aince or twice, an' beseek us no' to mak sic a noise.

[Be, pref., 1, intensive + Seek, q.v. The k forms are more common in O.Sc. than the ch. They are found also in n.Mid.Eng. (see N.E.D.). Seech is the regular development of O.E. sēcan and the k forms are supposed to be generalized from O.E. secþ (3rd sing. pres. indic.), influenced phs. also by Norse cogn. sœkja, Sw. söka.]

2691

snd