ask adverb [Pref. a- + round.]

Ask transitive verb [imperfect or past participle Asked; present participle or verbal noun Asking.] [OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. āscian, ācsian; akin to OS. ēscōn, OHG. eiscōn, Sw. āska, Dan. æske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith. jëskóti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire. √5.]

1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; – often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed.

Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God. Judg. xviii. 5.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John xv. 7.

2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask?

Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12.

To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke xii. 48.

An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity. Addison.

3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question.

He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. John ix. 21.

He asked the way to Chester. Shak.

4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.

5. To publish in church for marriage; – said of both the banns and the persons. Fuller.

Syn. – To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg.

Ask intransitive verb

1. To request or petition; – usually followed by for; as, to ask for bread.

Ask, and it shall be given you. Matt. vii. 7.

2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; – sometimes followed by after.

Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name? Gen. xxxii. 29.

Ask noun [See 2d Asker.] (Zool.) A water newt. [Scot. & North of Eng.]