verb. (old literary: now colloquial).—To proclaim in church: as a marriage; literally to ask for (or the) banns thereto. Formerly also of stray cattle, etc. [O.E.D.: ‘The recognised expression is now to “publish” the banns; but “ask” is the historical word.’] Whence ASKING = an announcement in church of intended marriage.
1461–73. Paston Letters, III. 46. To AXE [a couple] in chyrche.
1523. FITZHERBERT, Boke of Surueying and Improumentes, 28b. They oughte 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.
1606. Wily Beguild [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), ix. 304]. We must be ASKED in church next Sunday.
1662. FULLER, Worthies, ‘Westminster’ (1811), ii. 105. His head was ASK’D but never married to the English Crown.
1727–51. Chambers’ Cyclopædia, s.v. BANNS. The publication of banns (popularly called ASKING in the church).
1824. BYRON, Don Juan, XVI. lxxxviii. At the third ASKING … He started.
1841. J. W. ORDERSON, Creoleana, ii. 14. The fair sex … preferring to be ‘ASKED in church.’
1865. B. BRIERLY, Irkdale, II. 187. The ‘ASKINGS’ had been called over three consecutive Sundays.
ASK ANOTHER, phr. (common).—A jesting or contemptuous retort to a question that one cannot, will not, or ought not, to answer: also ASK BOGY (q.v.).
