Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SPEAK, v.t.

1. To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately; as human beings. They sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him. – Job ii. Speak the word, and my son shall be healed. – Matth. viii.
2. To declare; to proclaim; to celebrate. It is thy father's music / To speak your deeds. Shak.
3. To talk or converse in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation. A man may know how to read and to understand a language which he can not speak.
4. To address; to accost. He will smile upon thee, put thee in hope, and speak thee fair. – Ecclus.
5. To exhibit; to make known. Let heaven's wide circuit speak / The Maker's high magnificence. – Milton.
6. To express silently or by signs. The lady's looks or eyes speak the meaning or wishes of her heart.
7. To communicate; as, to speak peace to the soul. To speak a ship, to hail and speak to her captain or commander. Note. We say, to speak a word or syllable, to speak a sentence, an oration, piece, composition, or a dialogue, to speak a man's praise, &c.; but we never say, to speak an argument, a sermon, or a story.