Old English besprecan "speak about, speak against, complain," from be- + sprecan "to speak" (see speak (v.)). A common Germanic compound (cognates: Old Saxon bisprecan, Dutch bespreken, Old High German bisprehhan, German besprechen); originally "to call out," it evolved a wide range of meaning in English, including "speak up," "oppose," "request," "discuss, "arrange," and "to order (goods)" (1580s).
The connection of the senses is very loose; some of them appear to have arisen quite independently of each other from different applications of BE- pref. [OED]
雙語例句
1. He raised his head to bespeak his son's wish.
他抬頭問他兒子的愿望.
來自《現(xiàn)代英漢綜合大詞典》
2. Today's events bespeak future tragedy.
今天的事件預(yù)示著未來的不幸.
來自《現(xiàn)代英漢綜合大詞典》
3. Her house, her style of living, all bespeak an exceeding good income.