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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Speaking \Speak"ing\, a.
   1. Uttering speech; used for conveying speech; as, man is a
      speaking animal; a speaking tube.
      
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   2. Seeming to be capable of speech; hence, lifelike; as, a
      speaking likeness.
      
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   {A speaking acquaintance}, a slight acquaintance with a
      person, or one which merely permits the exchange of
      salutations and remarks on indifferent subjects.

   {Speaking trumpet}, an instrument somewhat resembling a
      trumpet, by which the sound of the human voice may be so
      intensified as to be conveyed to a great distance.

   {Speaking tube}, a tube for conveying speech, especially from
      one room to another at a distance.

   {To be on speaking terms}, to be slightly acquainted.
      
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Speaking \Speak"ing\, n.
   1. The act of uttering words.
      
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   2. Public declamation; oratory.
      
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