beg Copy link Outline I. To request or ask for earnestly1. pĕto, īvi and ĭi, ītum, 3 (with ab and abl. of the person from whom; the object of the petition being expressed either by an acc., or by a clause with ut or ne)2. contendo, di, sum and tum, 3 (esp. with peto3. prĕcor, 14. dēprĕcor, 1 (to b. earnestly for5. posco, pŏposci, 36. exposco, pŏposci, 3 (stronger than simple verb)II. To ask for alms • beg: I. To request or ask for earnestly: 1. pĕto, īvi and ĭi, ītum, 3 (with ab and abl. of the person from whom; the object of the petition being expressed either by an acc., or by a clause with ut or ne): to b. for peace, pacem ab aliquo p., Caes.: to ask and b. earnestly, rogare et vehementer p., Cic.: I b. and entreat you not to, etc., peto et oro ne, etc., Petr.: with dat. of person on behalf of whom: to b. the life of a guilty person, vitam p. nocenti, Tac.: Cic. N.B. Peto (= Gr. αίτέω), usu. denotes a position of inferiority either real or assumed on the part of the suitor. 2. contendo, di, sum and tum, 3 (esp. with peto: to beg earnestly): he requested and most earnestly b.'d of me that I would defend his relation, a me petebat et summe contendebat ut suum propinquum defenderem, Cic.: so, a te etiam atque etiam peto atque contendo, Cic. 3. prĕcor, 1: v. to pray, beseech. 4. dēprĕcor, 1 (to b. earnestly for: also often, to b. that some evil may be averted): to b. for peace, pacem d., Cic.: to b. nothing for oneself, nihil pro seipso d., Cic.: to beg the senate to forego their anger, ad deprecandam iram senatus, Liv.: my client b.'d for the life of many persons from L. Sulla, multorum hic vitam est a L. Sulla deprecatus, Cic. 5. posco, pŏposci, 3: b. pardon of the gods, posce deos veniam, Virg. (but posco usu. implies a claim: v. to ask, syn.). 6. exposco, pŏposci, 3 (stronger than simple verb): to b. for the battle signal, signum proelii exposcere, Caes.: Tac.: v. to ask, request, entreat. II. To ask for alms: mendīco, 1: it does not become me to live by b.ing, me non decet mendicantem vivere, Pl.: he lives on food that he has b.'d for, mendicato pascitur cibo, Ov. Phr.: to b. from door to door, stipem ostiatim petere: to hold out one's hand to b., manum ad stipem porrigere, Sen.; manum concavam asses praebentibus praebere, Suet.