Speak \Speak\, v. i. [imp. {Spoke}({Spake}Archaic); p. p.
{Spoken}({Spoke}, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n.
{Speaking}.] [OE. speken, AS. specan, sprecan; akin to
OF.ries. spreka, D. spreken, OS. spreken, G. sprechen, OHG.
sprehhan, and perhaps to Skr. sph[=u]rj to crackle, to
thunder. Cf. {Spark} of fire, {Speech}.]
1. To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to
express thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so
obstructed that a man may not be able to speak.
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Till at the last spake in this manner. --Chaucer.
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Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. --1 Sam. iii.
9.
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2. To express opinions; to say; to talk; to converse.
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That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set,
as the tradesmen speak. --Boyle.
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An honest man, is able to speak for himself, when a
knave is not. --Shak.
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During the century and a half which followed the
Conquest, there is, to speak strictly, no English
history. --Macaulay.
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3. To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to adress a
public assembly formally.
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Many of the nobility made themselves popular by
speaking in Parliament against those things which
were most grateful to his majesty. --Clarendon.
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4. To discourse; to make mention; to tell.
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Lycan speaks of a part of Caesar's army that came to
him from the Leman Lake. --Addison.
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5. To give sound; to sound.
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Make all our trumpets speak. --Shak.
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6. To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by
utterance; as, features that speak of self-will.
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Thine eye begins to speak. --Shak.
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{To speak of}, to take account of, to make mention of.
--Robynson (More's Utopia).
{To speak out}, to speak loudly and distinctly; also, to
speak unreservedly.
{To speak well for}, to commend; to be favorable to.
{To speak with}, to converse with. "Would you speak with me?"
--Shak.
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Syn: To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate;
pronounce; utter.
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