Speak v. t. (past spoke, archaic spake; past part. spoken, obs. or colloq. spoke; pres. part. speaking) 1.To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately, as human beings. "They sat down with him upn ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him."
2.To utter in a word or words; to say; to tell; to declare orally; as, to speak the truth; to speak sense.
3.To declare; to proclaim; to publish; to make known; to exhibit; to express in any way. "It is my father;s muste To speak your deeds." "Speaking a still good morrow with her eyes." "And for the heaven's wide circuit, let it speak The maker's high magnificence." "Report speaks you a bonny monk."
4.To talk or converse in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation; as, to speak Latin. "And French she spake full fair and fetisely."
5.To address; to accost; to speak to. "(He will) thee in hope; he will speak thee fair." "each village senior paused to scan And speak the lovely caravan."
To speak a ship (Naut.), to hail and speak to her captain or commander.
Speak v. i. (past spoke, archaic spake; past part. spoken, obs. or colloq. spoke; pres. part. speaking) 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. "Till at the last spake in this manner." "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth."
2.To express opinions; to say; to talk; to converse. "That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set, as the tradesmen speak." "An honest man, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not." "During the century and a half which followed the Conquest, there is, to speak strictly, no English history."
3.To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to adress a public assembly formally. "Many of the nobility made themselves popular by speaking in Parliament against those things which were most grateful to his majesty."
4.To discourse; to make mention; to tell. "Lycan speaks of a part of Caesar's army that came to him from the Leman Lake."
5.To give sound; to sound. "Make all our trumpets speak."
6.To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by utterance; as, features that speak of self-will. "Thine eye begins to speak."
To speak of, to take account of, to make mention of.
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?"
Synonyms: To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce; utter.
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