Forms: α. 1 ásci-an, ácsi-, áhsi-, áxi-, áhxi-, áhxsi-, áxsi-an, -ʓan, -ʓean, æcsian; 2–3 axien, acsien, 3 æxi, axi, 4 acsi, acsy, oxi, oxy, oxsi, oksi, 3–5 axen, (5 axse, exe,) 4–6 axe, ax, (6– dial. ax). Also β. 2 esci-, eski-en, 3 easki, (Orm.) asskenn, 3–5 ask-en, 3–7 aske, (5 haske, ascke, axke,) 4– ask. Also γ. 3–4 esch(e, esse, 3–5 asch(e, 5 ashe, 5–6 asshe, (north. asse, pa. t. ast).
[Common Teut.: OE. áscian was cogn. w. OFris. âskia, OS. êscôn, êscan, OHG. eiscôn, MHG. eischen, Ger. heischen, OTeut. *aiskôjan: cf. Skr. ish to seek, ichchhā wish. The original long á gave regularly the ME. (Kentish) ōxi; but elsewhere was shortened before the two consonants, giving ME. a, and, in some dialects, e. The result of these vowel changes, and of the OE. metathesis asc-, acs-, was that ME. had the types ōx, ax, ex, ask, esk, ash, esh, ass, ess. The true representative of the orig. áscian was the s.w. and w.midl. ash, esh, also written esse (cf. æsce ASH, wæsc(e)an WASH), now quite lost. Acsian, axian, survived in ax, down to nearly 1600 the regular literary form, and still used everywhere in midl. and south. dialects, though supplanted in standard English by ask, originally the northern form. Already in 15th c. the latter was reduced dialectally to asse, pa. t. ast, still current dialectally.]
General senses: I. To call for; II. To call for an answer; III. To call for a thing desired, to make a request; IV. Pregnant and special uses; V. fig. as predicated of things.
† I. 1. trans. To call for, call upon (a person or thing personified) to come. Obs.
a. 1000. Beowulf, 2417. He for wlenco wean ahsode.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen. (Gr.), 2453. [Hi] comon corþrum miclum cuman acsian.
c. 1205. Lay., 19967. He lette axien anan Men þat cuðen hæuwen stan.
II. To call upon any one for information, or an answer; to question, inquire.
* trans. With the thing asked as object:
To call for an answer to (a question or inquiry).
2. without mention of the person asked:
a. with the thing asked as an object sentence or clause (in indirect, or, less commonly, direct oration).
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. xiv. [2]. Ic ahsiʓe, Hwa þær eardað?
a. 1038. Carter of Eanwene, in Cod. Dipl., IV. 54. Ðà ácsode ðe bisceop hwá sceólde andswerian for his módor.
c. 1200. Ormin. Teȝȝ sholldenn … asskenn what he wære.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7887. He askes, quat was þat leuedi?
c. 1305. St. Crist., 149, in E. E. P. (1862), 63. Þis gode man … eschte what hi wolde.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wife’s Prol., 21. I axe, why the fyfte man Was nought housbond to the Samaritan?
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xxiv. Gauan asshes, ‘Is hit soe?’
1455. E. Clere, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 5. He askid what the Princes name was.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Rom., Prol. He axeth not whether good workes are to be done or not.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 71. May I aske, how my Lady his Wife doth?
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 454, ¶ 6. To ask what I wanted.
Mod. Ask who it is. He asks if you are ready. I merely ask, ‘Is it true?’
b. with the question expressed by a sb. or pronoun: To ask a question, this, something.
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 430. Some axen questyons to do hym wrong.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (1865), I. 67. Þre questiouns beeþ i-axed.
1803. Pegge, Anecd. Eng. Lang., 114. A true born Londoner, Sir, of either sex, always axes question, axes pardon, and at quadrille axes leave.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xiv. And ask a thousand things of home.
c. with the question indicated by its subject or object: To ask the way, the price, a name, an age, etc.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxxii. 29. Wherto askist [v.r. axist] thou my name?
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 689. Ryse up … and þe way asshe, To Wyltone.
1502. Arnold, Chron. (1811), 208. To answere him that axith the lawe of the Lorde.
1549. Latimer, 7 Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 27. The other axed ye price, he sayed: xx. nobles.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 39. He ask’d the way to Chester.
1842. Tennyson, Dream Fair Wom., 93. Ask thou not my name.
3. with the person asked introduced by a preposition:
† a. at a person. Obs. exc. dial.
1297. R. Glouc., 16. Heo aschede at Corineus, how heo so hardi were.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 924. Als Abraham … hit at himself asked.
1535. Coverdale, Ecclus. xxi. 17. It is axed at the mouth of the wyse.
1753. Stewart’s Trial, 197. To ask any question at Allan Breck about the murder, which he now related to them.
1843. Bethune, Scott. Peasant’s Fire-side, 47. ‘Why do you ask that question at me?’
† b. to a person. (Cf. Fr. demander à.) Obs.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 27. Than axed anon Sir Gii To the barouns that oned him bi.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, D vij b. Asking to her why she had trespaced his commaundments.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 13. Asking to passengers what weather it was without doores.
c. of a person.
1366. Maundev., v. 61. I asked of the monkes … how this befelle.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1124. Þe Amyral of hym axeth … wat tydynge þay had y-broȝt.
c. 1450. Merlin, ii. 36. Axe of hem whi that that toure fill.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 51 a. The sherif axed diligently of them … what they had done.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 957. [One] of whom to ask Which way the neerest coast of darkness lyes.
c. 1735. Pope, Hor. Epist., II. ii. 211. I ask these sober questions of my heart.
Mod. A farmer of whom I asked the way.
** trans. With the person asked as object:
To call upon (a person) for information or an answer; to put a question to, to question.
4. with personal obj. only: To ask a person.
a. simply.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Mark xii. 28. Hine ne dorste nan mann ahsian. Ibid., John ix. 21–23. Ahxsiað hine sylfne [v.r. acsiað, ahxiað, Lindisf. ʓefraiʓnas, Rushw. ʓefræʓnas].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1001. Syn þou askis me … I wille þe telle.
1382. Wyclif, Job xii. 7. Aske the bestis, and thei shul teche thee.
1535. Coverdale, Job xii. 7. Axe the catell, & they shal enfourme the.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. v. 36. Aske my dogge.
1611. Bible, 1 Cor. xiv. 35. Let them aske their husbands at home.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, II. 205. Ask your own heart; and nothing is so plain.
1842. Tennyson, Dora, 142. I ask’d him, and he said, He could not ever rue his marrying me.
b. with the question introduced by ‘saying,’ etc.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John i. 19. Hi axsodon hine [Hatton axeden hym] and þus cwæðen, Hwæt eart þu? Ibid., Matt. xii. 10. Hi ahsude[n] hyne, þus cweðende [etc.].
1388. Wyclif, Luke xxiii. 3. Pilat axide hym, and seide, Art thou Kyng of Jewis.
1611. Bible, John ix. 19. They asked them, saying, Is this your son?
5. with the thing asked as a second object: To ask a person a question.
a. with the question as an object sentence or clause.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., John xxi. 12. Nan þæra … ne dorste hine axian hwæt he wære.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 25. Þe preost me walde eskien … hwa me scriue. Ibid., 35. Esca hine hwet he habbe biʓeten.
a. 1230. Juliana, 257. He easkeð ham, ȝef ham biluueð to heren him.
c. 1275. Passion of our Lord, 567, in O. E. Misc., 53. Vre louerd hire gon axi, For hwi and for hwan wepestu?
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1125. Aske his fader quere he be.
c. 1314. Guy Warw., 98. He gan oxy what it might be, He hem oxed what it were.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 939. And how he was … he dude hym asshe.
1584. Three Ladies Lond., I. in Hazl., Dodsl., VI. 296. My lady axes you, when will you take possession of your house.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, II. ii. 38. Aske mee if I am a Courtier.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 10, ¶ 5. I have heard them asking the first man they have met with whether there was any news stirring.
1849. Dickens, Dav. Copp., xxi. (C. D. ed.), 181. I … asked him what o’clock it was.
b. with the question expressed by a sb. or pronoun: a question, this, something.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxi. 46. Ne man ne dorste hyne nan þing mare axiʓean [Rushw. ʓeasciʓan; Hatton axien].
c. 1315. Shoreham, 136. Ich acsy the a questioun.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 489. Now lovyeres axe I this question.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. i. 16. Aske him some questions in his Accidence.
1611. Bible, Jer. xxxviii. 14. I will aske thee a thing; hide nothing from me.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., III. 111. Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no fibs.
Mod. Which of them asked you that?
c. with the question asked indicated by its subject or object: To ask a person the way, the time, his name, age, etc.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 9. Aske him his name. Ibid. (1605), Lear, V. iii. 117. Aske him his purposes, why he appeares Vpon this Call o’ th’ Trumpet.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 436. Ask them the cause.
Mod. She asked me the reason.
6. with the matter introduced by a preposition: a. To ask a person of (arch.), about, in OE. be, ymb (= about), a matter. b. (To ask one after or for a person: see 7.)
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 4. Þæt is þæt ic þé ær ymb acsade … Ðisse spræce ðe ðu me æfter ascast.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke ix. 45. Hi ne dorston hine be þam worde ahsian.
c. 1220. Hali Meid., 9. Aske þes cwenes … of hare liflade.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1294. He asked him of his errand.
c. 1300. Beket, 2. And eschte him of Engelonde: and of the manere there.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 40 b. Thauncient man axid one of the marronners of this matere.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 389. Knocking at the Tauernes, And asking every one for Sir John Falstaffe. Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, IV. iii. 317. Why do’s he aske him of me?
1842. Tennyson, Edw. Morris, 23. Once I ask’d him of his early life.
Mod. Did you ask them about the books?
*** intr. With no object expressed:
To inquire, make inquiries.
7. To ask (of obs.) about (in OE. be, ymb = about). To ask after a thing missing, a person absent, his welfare, etc. To ask for a person; to ask to see; formerly (and still in dial.) = to ask after.
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxix. § 4. Se ðe ymb þæt ascian wile.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Deut. iv. 32. Ahsiað be ealdum daʓum ða wæron ær þonne ʓe.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 172. Axinde efter tiðinges.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 711. Wi axestu of craftes mine.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 542. I seygh neuere palmere … Axen after hym.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., III. i. 168. And Rosaline, they call her, aske for her.
1671. Milton, Samson, 40. Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him Eyeless in Gaza.
1849. Dickens, Dav. Copp., xx. (C. D. ed.), 178. That shows the advantage of asking, don’t it.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xxx. (1878), 524. To ask after their health when he met them.
Mod. Did any one ask for me, while I was out? When you reach that point, ask again.
† 8. To ask of or at a person of a matter, i.e., from a person about a matter. Obs.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 127. Ayþer axed of oþer · of þis grete wonder.
c. 1440. Generydes, 309. He asckid of Medeyn Of his ffader.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, VIII. liii. 152. To spie at whom to aske we gazed round.
1611. Bible, 1 Sam. xxviii. 16. Wherefore then doest thou aske of me?
III. To make request for a thing desired.
* trans. With the thing asked as object:
To make request for.
9. simply. To ask a thing. (Now more familiarly to ask for: see 16.)
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1668. Aske it wið skil and ðu salt hauen.
1340. Ayenb., 114. Jesu Crist ous tekþ zuo to oxi uoryeuenesse, Ibid., 209. Verst oxseþ Godes riche.
c. 1370. Lay-Folks Mass-bk., App. iv. 510. Let him not · his offryng asch.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 594. I naxe in guerdon but a boone.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., iv. Thenne the kyng asshet a chekkere.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., Coliphiz., 200. That is it that I ast.
1509. Hawes, Conv. Swearers, 26. Come nowe to me and axe forgyuenes.
1570. Play Wit & Sc. (1848), 10. I axe no more.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. vi. 69. Clifford, aske mercy.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 76. Asking licence to do so worthy a deed.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 6, ¶ 2. The beggar disabled himself in his Right Leg, and asks Alms all Day.
1837. Dickens, Pickwick, xxvii. Ask a blessing, Mr. Stiggins.
1859. Tennyson, Vivien, 155. Ask your boon, for boon I owe you.
b. To ask a price: to ask so much as the price, to state the price.
1857. Bohn’s Handbk. Prov., 323. Ask but enough, and you may lower the price as you list.
1864. Tennyson, Brook, 142. How he sent the bailiff to the farm To learn the price, and what the price he ask’d.
Mod. What do you ask for this? How much did he ask?
10. To ask a thing (to obs., at obs. or dial.) of, from a person.
1340. Ayenb., 110. Huet may þe zone betere acsy to his under þanne bread?
c. 1450. Compl. Lover’s Life, lxix. That to my foo … Mot axe grace, mercy, and pite.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 134. Such as axen of the Kyng, Offices.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. cviii. 661. A charmer … that asketh counsell at spirites.
1647. Charles I., Lett., in Antiquary, I. 97. To aske leave of ye two houses to make a journey.
1796. Burns, Lett., in Wks. (Globe), 563. I am ashamed to ask another favour of you.
1830. trans. Aristoph. Acharnians, 43. The request of the bride, which she earnestly asks at me!
Mod. He asked a larger sum from me.
11. To ask to do, or be done to.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. i. 63. I … axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 1. I had delyte & axed to rede some good historye.
1647. Sprigg, Ang. Rediv., III. iii. (1854), 149. I humbly ask to have this place slighted.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanat., vii. 221. The country … seemed to ask to be seized upon by men worthy to enjoy it.
** trans. With the person asked as object:
To make a request to.
12. To ask a person a thing. Obs., or arch. in ‘I ask you pardon, leave.’
1297. R. Glouc., 16. He nolde no mon asche leue. Ibid., 196. Hii esseþ vs truage.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3868. Jacob askid him his lemman.
c. 1308. Pol. Songs, 200. What hast i-do, That thou me so oxist pes?
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxxvi. 493. Forto axen hem consaille.
1538. Bale, God’s Promises, in Dodsl., O. P. (1780), I. 11. Good Lorde I axe the mercy.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 551. To stand upright Will ask thee skill.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, xvi. vii. (1840), 238/2. I ask Mr. Blifil pardon.
b. with the second object wanting.
a. 1564. Becon, Gen. Pref. Wks. (1843), 22. Christ saith: ‘Give to every one that axeth thee.’
13. To ask a person to do a thing.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3141. Nou es he askid … Til gode to make of sacrifise.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, I. (title), How King Pelleus Exit Iason to get þe ffles of golde.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 22. 152. I asked him to accompany me.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xxv. 350. He does not ask me to pay his bills.
14. To ask a person (of obs.) for a thing.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T. (Wr.), ¶ 918. A man that … cometh for to axe him of mercy [Other MSS. aske mercy].
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 24/3. For this first they ought to axe echeone other.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. i. 61. He ask’d me for a hundred markes in gold. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., IV. i. 138. I might aske you for your Commission.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 50. You know his Grace, I want a Patron; ask him for a Place.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., V. vii. Ask we this savage hill we tread For fatten’d steer or household bread?
Prov. Ask a kite for a feather, and she’ll say, she has but just enough to fly with.
*** intr. With no object: To make request.
15. simply. To ask.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks. (1871), III. 328. He is redy to ȝeve him if he ax worþily.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5243. Man that worthy is of name, To axen often hath gret shame.
1535. Coverdale, Matt. vi. 7. Axe & it shalbe giuen you.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 402. Ask and haue.
1611. Bible, Matt. vi. 7. Aske [Wyclif, axe ȝe] and it shalbe giuen you.
Mod. It is rather those who ask loudest, than those who need most, that secure attention.
16. To ask (after obs.) for a thing.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 81. Iuel mennish … acseð after fortocne of heuene.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. VI. 298. Al hunger eet in hast and axed after more.
1611. Bible, Micah vii. 3. The iudge asketh for a reward.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, II. 246. Could hear a famish’d woman ask for food, And feel no pity.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., II. vii. 202. I’ll cut back and ask for leave.
IV. Pregnant senses and special uses.
† 17. To inquire into, examine, investigate. Obs.
c. 1000. Ags. Ps. x. 5. His bræwas … ahsað manna bearn. Se ylca Drihten ahsað rihtwise and unrihtwise.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 35. Oðer he heo hafð i-escad oðer hafð ifunden on boke.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xi. 7. Beforn that thou aske, ne blame thou any man. Ibid., Ps. x. 5. The eyelidis of hym asken [1611 trie] the sones of men. The Lord asketh the riȝtwis man, and the vnpitous.
1612. Arraignm. John Selman, 14. Sir Francis Bacon … proceeded to judgment and asking on the prisoner, thus … hee spake.
† 18. To prosecute, exact from, oppress. Obs.
1388. Wyclif, Isaiah lviii. 3. Lo! ȝoure wille is foundun in the dai of ȝoure fastyng, and ye axen alle ȝoure dettouris.
19. To ask as by right, call for, demand.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 36. They axen alle jugement Ayein the man.
c. 1430. Syr Generides, 4795. His hors he ashed … his wey he nam.
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 393. He axit justes of were And prays the of answere.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 58. To worshyp me as I wylle asse.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1874), I. 141. Nought … to asshe agaynst right.
1544. Bale, Sir J. Oldcastell, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 258. God will axe no more of a Christen beleuer … but only to obey the preceptes of that moost blessed lawe.
1580. Baret, Alv., A 594. To aske agayne that is ones owne, or in a maner due to him, Reposco.
b. esp. in To ask an account.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, xxxix. 59. Of the which God wille axse hem accompte.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccclxxxiii. 645. They wolde aske accomptes of the Chancellour of Englande to knowe where all the good was become that he had leuyed through the realme.
1559. Myrr. Mag., Dk. Glouc., xxi. 5. To axe a reckening of the Realmes reuenue.
20. To make proclamation of a thing in church or other public place, calling upon any who have claims or objections to put them forward. Formerly of things found, stray cattle, etc.; still used of marriages about to be contracted (to ask the banns); in popular phrase the parties are said to be ‘asked in church.’
(The recognized expression is now to publish the banns; but ask is the historical word.) See BANN.
a. 1450. Myrc, 203. Aske the banns thre halydawes.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 28 b. They ought to aske them [stray cattle] thre sondayes in thre or four next parysshe churches and also crye them thre tymes in thre the nexte market townes.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 181. The day When I shal aske the banes, and when be married.
1606. Wily Beguiled, in Hazl., Dodsl., IX. 304. We must be asked in church next Sunday.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, Westm. (1811), II. 105 (D.). His head was ask’d, but never married to the English Crown.
1841. Orderson, Creoleana, ii. 14. The fair sex … preferring to be ‘asked in church.’
21. ellipt. To ask (one) to come, to invite.
Mod. We ought to ask him to dinner. Why were you not at the ball? Because I was not asked.
22. To ask away: to do away with by asking.
1649. Milton, Eikon., Wks. 1738, I. 112. His Prayer is so ambitious of Prerogative, that it dares ask away the Prerogative of Christ himself.
V. fig. Predicated of things.
23. To need, require, demand, call for (by its condition).
1340. Ayenb., 54. Be þan þet hare zennes okseþ.
1387. Trevisa, Descr. Brit. (Caxton), 36. Whan tyme and place axeth.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, XV. 7067. He þat tas not his tyme, when þe tyde askes.
c. 1430. Hymns to Virg. (1867), 61. Quod conscience, þat axiþ coost.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., II. i. 15. Signior Baptista, my businesse asketh haste.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, I. i. 7. These three matters handled would aske a great volume.
1615. Markham, Eng. Housew. (1660), 81. The Veal will aske a double quantity of Suet.
1623. Sanderson, Serm., Ad Mag. i. (1674), 89. It will ask some time, yea, and cunning too, to find it out.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 478. Goats of equal Profit are … and ask an equal Care.
1780. Cowper, Table T., 559. To give a Milton birth ask’d ages more.
1880. Cyples, Hum. Exp., vi. 133. Limit of time asked for a sensation.
† 24. To invite, provoke. Obs.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), IV. 91. Such crabyysh wordes do aske a blow.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1637), 303. One ill word asketh another. One good turne asketh another.
† 25. To seek, direct itself toward (lit. trans. of L. petere). Obs. rare.
1432–50. trans. Higden (1865), I. 63. The Redde see … is departede in to ij. armes, of whom the arme Persicalle … dothe aske the northe.
