Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BEG, v.t. [Probably contracted from Sw. begära, to ask, desire, crave; Dan. begiærer; Ger. begehren; D. begeeren, which is a compound word: be and gieren, to crave; Sax. geornian, gyrnan, to yearn. In Italian, picaro is a beggar.]

1. To ask earnestly; to beseech; to entreat, or supplicate with humility. It implies more urgency than ask or petition. Joseph begged the body of Jesus. – Matth. xxvii.
2. To ask or supplicate in charity; as, we may yet be reduced to beg our bread.
3. To take for granted; to assume without proof; as, to beg the question in debate.