01 v. i. 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 …
imp.
Spoke; p. p.
Spoken; p. pr. & vb. n.
Speaking
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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.Archaic“Till at the last spake in this manner.” — Chaucer.“Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” — 1 Sam. iii. 9.
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2.
To express opinions; to say; to talk; to converse.“That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set, as the tradesmen speak.” — Boyle.“An honest man, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not.” — Shak.“During the century and a half which followed the Conquest, there is, to speak strictly, no English history.” — Macaulay.
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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.” — Clarendon.
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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.” — Addison.
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5.
To give sound; to sound.“Make all our trumpets speak.” — Shak.
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6.
To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by utterance; as, features that speak of self-will.“Thine eye begins to speak.” — Shak.
Phrases & compounds
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.