▪ I.ask,v.|ɑːsk,æ-|Forms: α. 1 ásci-an, ácsi-, áhsi-, áxi-, áhxi-, áhxsi-, áxsi-an, -ᵹan, -ᵹean, æcsian; 2–3 axien, acsien, 3 æxi, axi, 4 acsi, acsy, oxi, oxy, oxsi, oksi, 3–5 axen, (5 axse, exe,) 4–6 axe, ax, (6–dial.ax). Also β. 2 esci-, eski-en, 3 easki, (Orm.) asskenn, 3–5 ask-en, 3–7 aske, (5 haske, ascke, axke,) 4– ask. Also γ. 3–4 esch(e, esse, 3–5 asch(e, 5 ashe, 5–6 asshe, (north.asse, pa.tense ast).[CommonTeut.:OE.áscian was cogn. w.OFris.âskia,OS.êscôn, êscan,OHG.eiscôn,MHG.eischen,Ger.heischen,OTeut.*aiskôjan:cf.Skr.ish to seek, ichchhā wish. The original long á gave regularly theME.(Kentish) ōxi; but elsewhere was shortened before the two consonants, givingME.a, and, in some dialects, e. The result of these vowel changes, and of theOE.metathesis asc-, acs-, was thatME.had the types ōx, ax, ex, ask, esk, ash, esh, ass, ess. The true representative of theorig.áscian was thes.w.and w.midl. ash, esh, also written esse (cf.æsce ash, wæsc(e)an wash), now quite lost. Acsian, axian, survived in ax, down to nearly 1600 the regular literary form, and still used everywhere inmidl.andsouth.dialects, though supplanted in standard English by ask, originally the northern form. Already in 15th c. the latter was reduced dialectally to asse,pa.tense ast, still current dialectally.]General senses: I. To call for; II. To call for an answer; III. To call for a thing desired, to make a request; IV. Pregnant and special uses; V. fig.as predicated of things.†I.1.trans.To call for, call upon (a person or thing personified) to come. Obs.a1000Beowulf 2417He for wlenco wean ahsode.a1000Cædmon'sGen.(Gr.) 2453[Hi]comon corþrum miclum cuman acsian.1205Lay.19967He lette axien anan Men þat cuðen hæuwen stan.II.To call upon any one for information, or an answer; to question, inquire.* trans.With the thing asked as object:To call for an answer to (a question or inquiry).2.without mention of the person asked:a.with the thing asked as an object sentence or clause (in indirect, or, less commonly, direct oration).c1000Ags.Ps.xiv.[2]Ic ahsiᵹe, Hwa þær eardað?a1038Charter of Eanwene in Cod. Dipl. IV. 54Ðá ácsode ðe bis⁓ceop hwá sceólde andswerian for his módor.c1200OrminTeȝȝ sholldenn..asskenn what he wære.a1300Cursor M. 7887He askes, quat was þat leuedi?c1305St.Crist. 149 in E.E.P. (1862) 63Þis gode man..eschte what hi wolde.c1386ChaucerWife'sProl.21,I axe, why the fyfte man Was nought housbond to the Samaritan?c1420Avow. Arth. xxiv,Gauan asshes, ‘Is hit soe?’1455E. Clere inFour C.Eng.Lett.5He askid what the Princes name was.1549CoverdaleErasm. Par.Rom.Prol.,He axeth not whether good workes are to be done or not.1597Shakes.2Hen.IV, iii. ii. 71May I aske, how my Lady his Wife doth?1711SteeleSpect.No.454 ⁋6To ask what I wanted.Mod.Ask who it is. He asks if you are ready. I merely ask, ‘Is it true?’b.with the question expressed by an.or pronoun: To ask a question, this, something. to ask (a horse) the question: to call upon him for a special effort.c1320R. BrunneMedit.430Some axen questyons to do hym wrong.1387TrevisaHigden (1865) I. 67Þre questiouns beeþ i-axed.1803PeggeAnecd.Eng.Lang.114A true born Londoner, Sir, of either sex, always axes question, axes pardon, and at quadrille axes leave.1850TennysonInMem.xiv,And ask a thousand things of home.1894H. CustanceRidingRecoll.vi. 88Until the last ten strides, when I really asked ‘King Lud’ the question.c.with the question indicated by its subject or object: To ask the way, the price, a name, an age, etc.1382WyclifGen.xxxii. 29Wherto askist[v.r. axist]thou my name?c1420Chron.Vilod. 689Ryse up..and þe way asshe, To Wyltone.1502ArnoldChron.(1811) 208To answere him that axith the lawe of the Lorde.1549Latimer7Serm.bef.Edw.VI (Arb.) 27The other axed ye price, he sayed: xx. nobles.1597Shakes.2Hen.IV, i. i. 39He ask'd the way to Chester.1842TennysonDream Fair Women 93Ask thou not my name.3.with the person asked introduced by a preposition:†a.at a person. Obs.exc.dial.1297R.Glouc.16Heo aschede at Corineus, how heo so hardi were.c1325E.E.Allit.P. B. 924Als Abraham..hit at himself asked.1535CoverdaleEcclus.xxi. 17It is axed at the mouth of the wyse.1753Stewart's Trial 197To ask any question at Allan Breck about the murder, which he now related to them.1843A. BethuneScot.Peasant's Fireside 47‘Why do you ask that question at me?’†b.to a person. (Cf.Fr.demander à.) Obs.c1314Guy Warw. 27Than axed anon Sir Gii To the barouns that oned him bi.1483CaxtonG. de la Tour D vij b,Asking to her why she had trespaced his commaundments.1663GerbierCounsel 13Asking to passengers what weather it was without doores.c.of a person.1366Mandeville v. 61,I asked of the monkes..how this be⁓felle.c1380Sir Ferumb. 1124Þe Amyral of hym axeth..wat tydynge þay had y-broȝt.c1450Merlin ii. 36Axe of hem whi that that toure fill.1562TurnerHerbal ii. 51 a,The sherif axed diligently of them..what they had done.1667MiltonP.L. ii. 957[One]of whom to ask Which way the neerest coast of darkness lyes.c1735PopeHor.Epist.ii. ii. 211,I ask these sober questions of my heart.Mod.A farmer of whom I asked the way.** trans.With the person asked as object:To call upon (a person) for information or an answer; to put a question to, to question.4.with personalobj.only: To ask a person.a.simply.c1000Ags.Gosp.Mark xii. 28Hine ne dorste nan mann ahsian.Ibid.John ix. 21–23Ahxsiað hine sylfne[v.r. acsiað, ahxiað, Lindisf. ᵹefraiᵹnas, Rushw. ᵹefræᵹnas].a1300Cursor M. 1001Syn þou askis me..I wille þe telle.1382WyclifJob xii. 7Aske the bestis, and thei shul teche thee.1535CoverdaleJob xii. 7Axe the catell, & they shal enfourme the.1591Shakes.Two Gent. ii. v. 36Aske my dogge.1611Bible1Cor.xiv. 35Let them aske their husbands at home.1732PopeEss.Man ii. 205Ask your own heart; and nothing is so plain.1842TennysonDora 142I ask'd him, and he said, He could not ever rue his marrying me.b.with the question introduced by ‘saying,’ etc.c1000Ags.Gosp.John i. 19Hi axsodon hine[Hatton axeden hym]and þus cwæðen, Hwæt eart þu?Ibid.Matt.xii. 10Hi ahsude[n]hyne, þus cweðende, etc.1388WyclifLuke xxiii. 3Pilat axide hym, and seide, Art thou Kyng of Jewis.1611BibleJohn ix. 19They asked them, saying, Is this your son?c.I ask you, exclamatoryphr.indicating disgust or asseveration.1855DickensDorrit i. ii. 12‘Now, I ask you,’ said Mr. Meagles... ‘I ask you simply, as between man and man,..did you ever hear of such damned nonsense as putting Pet in quarantine?’1898G. B. ShawArms & Man 111 in Plays Pleasant & Unpl. II. 73Now, I ask you, would a woman who took the affair seriously have sent me this?1902ConradYouth 44Now, I ask you, can anybody stand this kind of thing?1932Punch 18 May 536,I ask you—not a taxi in sight!1937C. Day LewisStarting Point i. iii. 41‘My God, look at these people! Just look at them—I ask you,’ he exclaimed.d.colloq.phr.if you ask me: in my opinion.[1856DickensDorrit ii. ix. 394And if you ask me for my advice, it is that you set off tomorrow.]1910GalsworthyJustice 11,If you ask me, I don't think he was quite compos when he did it.1930J. B. PriestleyAngel Pavement ii. 65Girls are a bit silly, if you ask me, and it's a good job for the men they are.1932Punch 14 Dec. 654/2If you ask me, a little of that sort of thing would brighten up the trade wonderfully.5.with the thing asked as a second object: To ask a person a question.a.with the question as an object sentence or clause.c1000Ags.Gosp.John xxi. 12Nan þæra..ne dorste hine axian hwæt he wære.c1175Lamb.Hom.25Þe preost me walde eskien..hwa me scriue.Ibid.35Esca hine hwet he habbe biᵹeten.a1230Juliana 257He easkeð ham, ȝef ham biluueð to heren him.c1275Passion of Our Lord 567 in O.E.Misc.53Vre louerd hire gon axi, For hwi and for hwan wepestu?a1300Cursor M. 1125Aske his fader quere he be.c1314Guy Warw. 98He gan oxy what it might be, He hem oxed what it were.c1420Chron.Vilod. 939And how he was..he dude hym asshe.1584Three LadiesLond.i. inHazl.Dodsl.VI. 296My lady axes you, when will you take possession of your house.1601Shakes.All's Well ii. ii. 38Aske mee if I am a Courtier.1711AddisonSpect.No.10 ⁋5,I have heard them asking the first man they have met with whether there was any news stirring.1849DickensDav. Copp. xxi. (C.D.ed.) 181,I..asked him what o'clock it was.b.with the question expressed by an.or pronoun: a question, this, something.c1000Ags.Gosp.Matt.xxii. 46Ne man ne dorste hyne nan þing mare axiᵹean[Rushw. ᵹeasciᵹan; Hatton axien].c1315Shoreham 136Ich acsy the a questioun.c1386ChaucerKnt.'s T. 489Now lovyeres axe I this question.1598Shakes.Merry W. iv. i. 16Aske him some questions in his Accidence.1611BibleJer.xxxviii. 14,I will aske thee a thing; hide nothing from me.1773Goldsm.Stoops to Conq. iii. 111Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no fibs.Mod.Which of them asked you that?c.with the question asked indicated by its subject or object: To ask a person the way, the time, his name, age, etc.1593Shakes.Rich.II, i. iii. 9Aske him his name.1605―Lear v. iii. 117Aske him his purposes, why he appeares Vpon this Call o' th' Trumpet.1709PopeEss.Crit.436Ask them the cause.Mod.She asked me the reason.d.colloq.phr.ask me another: I do not know (the answer to your question). Also ask me, ask me a harder, etc.1910A. BennettClayhanger iii. ii. 344‘Why's he wearing his best clothes?’ Clara demanded... ‘Ask me another!’ said Edwin.1912A. BrazilNew Girl atSt.Chad's ix. 139‘Then who was it?’ Honor shook her head. ‘Ask me a harder!’ she said briefly.1915Mrs. H. WardEltham House xii. 212‘Tell me about Madge Whitton. There are all sorts of rumours..’ ..Lewson shrugged his shoulders—‘Ask me another, Duchess.’1928E. WallaceGunner ii. 24,I hope you are wearing warm undies. Why are undies indelicate and sable coats ladylike? Ask me. It's one of the mysteries.1933I. Compton-BurnettMore Women xiii. 202‘Devoted?’ said Josephine, raising her brows. ‘Ask me another. I am not in a position to give you an account of their feelings.’6.with the matter introduced by a preposition:a.To ask a person of (arch.), about, inOE.be, ymb (=about), a matter.b.(To ask one after or for a person: see 7.)c885K. ælfredBoeth. xxxix. §4Þæt is þæt ic þé ær ymb acsade..Ðisse spræce ðe ðu me æfter ascast.c1000Ags.Gosp.Luke ix. 45Hi ne dorston hine be þam worde ahsian.c1220Hali Meid. 9Aske þes cwenes..of hare liflade.a1300Cursor M. 1294He asked him of his errand.c1300Beket 2And eschte him of Engelonde: and of the manere there.1475CaxtonJason 40 b,Thauncient man axid one of the marronners of this matere.1597Shakes.2Hen.IV, ii. iv. 389Knocking at the Tauernes, And asking every one for Sir John Falstaffe.1601―All's Well iv. iii. 317Why do's he aske him of me?1842TennysonE. Morris 23Once I ask'd him of his early life.Mod.Did you ask them about the books?*** intr.With no object expressed:To inquire, make inquiries.7.To ask (ofobs.) about (inOE.be, ymb=about). To ask after a thing missing, a person absent, his welfare, etc. To ask for a person; to ask to see; formerly (and still in dial.)=to ask after.c885K. ælfredBoeth. xxxix. §4Se ðe ymb þæt ascian wile.c1000ælfricDeut.iv. 32Ahsiað be ealdum daᵹum ða wæron ær þonne ᵹe.c1230Ancr. R. 172Axinde efter tiðinges.a1250Owl & Night. 711Wi axestu of craftes mine.1377Langl.P. Pl. B. v. 542,I seygh neuere palmere..Axen after hym.1588Shakes.L.L.L. iii. i. 168And Rosaline, they call her, aske for her.1671MiltonSamson 40Ask for this great deliverer now, and find him Eyeless in Gaza.1849DickensDav. Copp. xx. (C.D.ed.) 178That shows the advantage of asking, don't it.1866G. MacdonaldAnn.Q.Neighb.xxx. (1878) 524To ask after their health when he met them.Mod.Did any one ask for me, while I was out? When you reach that point, ask again.†8.To ask of or at a person of a matter,i.e.from a person about a matter. Obs.1393Langl.P. Pl. C. xxi. 127Ayþer axed of oþer · of þis grete wonder.c1440Generydes 309He asckid of Medeyn Of his ffader.1600FairfaxTasso viii. liii. 152To spie at whom to aske we gazed round.1611Bible1Sam.xxviii. 16Wherefore then doest thou aske of me?III.To make request for a thing desired.* trans.With the thing asked as object:To make request for.9.simply. To ask a thing. (Now more familiarly to ask for: see 16.)c1250Gen.& Ex. 1668Aske it wið skil and ðu salt hauen.1340Ayenb. 114Jesu Crist ous tekþ zuo to oxi uoryeuenesse.Ibid.209Verst oxseþ Godes riche.1370Lay-Folks Mass-Bk.App.iv. 510Let him not · his offryng asch.c1374ChaucerTroylus v. 594,I naxe in guerdon but a boone.c1420Avow. Arth. iv,Thenne the kyng asshet a chekkere.c1460TowneleyMyst.Coliphiz. 200That is it that I ast.1509HawesConv.Swearers 26Come nowe to me and axe forgyuenes.1570Play Wit &Sc.(1848) 10,I axe no more.1593Shakes.3Hen.VI, ii. vi. 69Clifford, aske mercy.1644MiltonAreop. (Arb.) 76Asking licence to do so worthy a deed.1711SteeleSpect.No.6 ⁋2The beggar disabled himself in his Right Leg, and asks Alms all Day.1837DickensPickw. xxvii,Ask a blessing, Mr. Stiggins.1859TennysonVivien 155Ask your boon, for boon I owe you.b.to ask a price: to ask so much as the price, to state the price.1857BohnHandbk.Prov.323Ask but enough, and you may lower the price as you list.1864TennysonBrook 142How he sent the bailiff to the farm To learn the price, and what the price he ask'd.Mod.What do you ask for this? How much did he ask?10.To ask a thing (toobs., atobs.ordial.) of, from a person.1340Ayenb. 110Huet may þe zone betere acsy to his uader þanne bread?c1450Compl.Lover's Life lxix,That to my foo..Mot axe grace, mercy, and pite.c1460FortescueAbs. & Lim. Mon. (1714) 134Such as axen of the Kyng, Offices.1583GoldingCalvin onDeut.cviii. 661A charmer..that asketh counsell at spirites.1647Chas.I. Let.in Antiquary I. 97To aske leave of y⊇ two houses to make a journey.1796BurnsLet.in Wks.(Globe) 563,I am ashamed to ask another favour of you.1830tr.Aristoph. Acharnians 43The request of the bride, which she earnestly asks at me!Mod.He asked a larger sum from me.11.To ask to do, or be done to.c1374ChaucerBoeth. iii. i. 63I..axe gretely to heeren tho remedyes.1477Earl Rivers (Caxton)Dictes 1,I had delyte & axed to rede some good historye.1647J. SpriggeAng.Rediv. iii. iii. (1854) 149,I humbly ask to have this place slighted.1833I. taylorFanat. vii. 221The country..seemed to ask to be seized upon by men worthy to enjoy it.** trans.With the person asked as object:To make a request to.12.To ask a person a thing. Obs., or arch.in ‘I ask you pardon, leave.’1297R.Glouc.16He nolde no mon asche leue.Ibid.196Hii esseþ vs truage.a1300Cursor M. 3868Jacob askid him his lemman.c1308Pol.Songs 200What hast i-do, That thou me so oxist pes?c1450LonelichGrail xxxvi. 493Forto axen hem consaille.1538BaleGod's Promises in Dodsley O.P. (1780) I. 11Good Lorde I axe the mercy.1671MiltonP.R. iv. 551To stand upright Will ask thee skill.1749FieldingTom Jones xvi. vii. (1840) 238/2,I ask Mr. Blifil pardon.b.with the second object wanting.a1564BeconGen.Pref.Wks.(1843) 22Christ saith: ‘Give to every one that axeth thee.’13.To ask a person to do a thing.a1300Cursor M. 3141Nou es he askid..Til gode to make of sacrifise.c1400Destr. Troy i. (title)How King Pelleus Exit Iason to get þe ffles of golde.1860TyndallGlac.i. §22. 152,I asked him to accompany me.1872BlackAdv.Phaeton xxv. 350He does not ask me to pay his bills.14.To ask a person (ofobs.) for a thing.c1386ChaucerPars. T. (Wr.) ⁋918A man that..cometh for to axe him of mercy[Other MSS. aske mercy].1483CaxtonGold.Leg.24/3For this first they ought to axe echeone other.1590Shakes.Com.Err. ii. i. 61He ask'd me for a hundred markes in gold.1600―A.Y.L. iv. i. 138,I might aske you for your Commission.1735PopeProl.Sat.50You know his Grace, I want a Patron; ask him for a Place.1810ScottLady of L. v. vii,Ask we this savage hill we tread For fatten'd steer or household bread?Prov.Ask a kite for a feather, and she'll say, she has but just enough to fly with.*** intr.With no object: To make request.15.simply. To ask.c1380WyclifSel.Wks.(1871) III. 328He is redy to ȝeve him if he ax worþily.c1400Rom.Rose 5243Man that worthy is of name, To axen often hath gret shame.1535CoverdaleMatt.vi. 7Axe & it shalbe giuen you.1535StewartCron.Scot.II. 402Ask and haue.1611BibleMatt.vi. 7Aske[Wyclif, axe ȝe]and it shalbe giuen you.Mod.It is rather those who ask loudest, than those who need most, that secure attention.16.To ask (afterobs.) for a thing.c1200Trin.Coll.Hom.81Iuel mennish..acseð after fortocne of heuene.1377Langl.P. Pl. B. vi. 298Al hunger eet in hast and axed after more.1611BibleMicah vii. 3The iudge asketh for a reward.1795SoutheyJoan of Arc ii. 246Could hear a famish'd woman ask for food, And feel no pity.1865DickensMut.Fr.ii. vii. 202I'll cut back and ask for leave.b.phr.to ask for trouble (or the like), also (as slang orcolloq.substitute) to ask for it, to act in such a way as to bring trouble upon oneself, to give provocation.1902Captain VII. 549/2The fly-away contingent were what is spoken of as ‘asking for’ bent spines and injured hearts.1909E. P. OppenheimJeanne of Marshes ii. xiv. 274‘Whatever happens to him,’ Forrest said, ‘he's asking for it.’1909Westm.Gaz.16 Sept. 12/2There are vainglorious players in this world who, to use a vulgarism, ‘ask for it’, and deserve it when they get it.1915Times Red Cross Story Book 71Certainly we were ‘asking for it’, as my..offspring did not fail to remark.1916‘Boyd Cable’Action Front 165Silly fools... What do they want to hoist that huge Red Cross flag up there for, where any airman can see it? Fairly asking for it, I call it.1925E. F. NortonFight for Everest, 1924 343It is asking for trouble to give out any money except the daily ration allowance.1946‘M. Innes’From London Far i. v. 42‘The damned scoundrels!’.. The girl was philosophical. ‘I asked for it, all right.’1960H. PinterRoom 1,I don't know how they live down there. It's asking for trouble.IV.Pregnant senses and special uses.†17.To inquire into, examine, investigate. Obs.c1000Ags.Ps.x. 5His bræwas..ahsað manna bearn. Se ylca Drihten ahsað rihtwíse and unrihtwíse.c1175Lamb.Hom.35Oðer he heo hafð i-escad oðer hafð ifunden on boke.1382WyclifEcclus.xi. 7Beforn that thou aske, ne blame thou any man.Ibid.Ps.x. 5The eyelidis of hym asken[1611 trie]the sones of men. The Lord asketh the riȝtwis man, and the vnpitous.1612Arraignm. John Selman 14Sir Francis Bacon..proceeded to judgment and asking on the prisoner, thus..hee spake.†18.To prosecute, exact from, oppress. Obs.1388WyclifIsaiah lviii. 3Lo! ȝoure wille is foundun in the dai of ȝoure fastyng, and ye axen alle ȝoure dettouris.19.To ask as by right, call for, demand.1393GowerConf.I. 36They axen alle jugement Ayein the man.c1430Syr Generides 4795His hors he ashed..his wey he nam.a1440Sir Degrev. 393He axit justes of were And prays the of answere.c1460TownelyMyst.58To worshyp me as I wylle asse.1509BarclayShyp of Folys (1874) I. 141Nought..to asshe agaynst right.1544BaleSir J. Oldcastell in Harl.Misc.(Malh.) I. 258God will axe no more of a Christen beleuer..but only to obey the preceptes of that moost blessed lawe.1580BaretAlv. A 594To aske agayne that is ones owne, or in a maner due to him, Reposco.b.esp.in to ask an account.a1450Knt. de la Tour xxxix. 59Of the which God wille axse hem accompte.1523Ld.Berners Froiss. I. ccclxxxiii. 645They wolde aske accomptes of the Chancellour of Englande to knowe where all the good was become that he had leuyed through the realme.1559Myrr.Mag.,Dk.Glouc.xxi. 5To axe a reckening of the Realmes reuenue.20.To make proclamation of a thing in church or other public place, calling upon any who have claims or objections to put them forward. Formerly of things found, stray cattle, etc.; still used of marriages about to be contracted (to ask the banns); in popular phrase the parties are said to be ‘asked in church.’(The recognized expression is now to publish the banns; but ask is the historical word.) See bann.1450Myrc 203Aske the banns thre halydawes.1523Fitzherb.Surv.28 b,They ought to aske them[stray cattle]thre sondayes in thre or four next parysshe churches and also crye them thre tymes in thre the nexte market townes.1596Shakes.Tam. Shr. ii. i. 181The day When I shal aske the banes, and when be married.1606Wily Beguiled inHazl.Dodsley IX. 304We must be asked in church next Sunday.1662FullerWorthiesWestm.(1811) II. 105 (D.)His head was ask'd, but never married to the English Crown.1841J. W. OrdersonCreoleana ii. 14The fair sex..preferring to be ‘asked in church.’21. a.ellipt.To ask (one) to come, to invite.Mod.We ought to ask him to dinner. Why were you not at the ball? Because I was not asked.b.colloq., with adverbs: to ask back, to reciprocate an invitation; to ask down, to invite (someone) to come and stay in the country; to ask out, to invite to something,esp.to an entertainment.1834Dickens inMonthlyMag.Feb. 152If I see him..tomorrow, perhaps I'll ask him down.1864H. C. AdamsWhite Brunswickers x. 167Billy moved heaven and earth to get asked out on the same days.1887KiplingPlain Tales from Hills (1890) 199Now and again he was asked out to dinner.1888McCarthy & PraedLadies' Gallery I. xii. 289,I was asked out in a kind of way.1922‘R. Crompton’More William xiv. 231But if he asks you to his you must ask him back.1934H. G. WellsExper.Autobiogr. II. viii. 532People, often strange people, were beginning to ask us out.22.to ask away: to do away with by asking.1649MiltonEikon.Wks.1738 I. 112His Prayer is so ambitious of Prerogative, that it dares ask away the Prerogative of Christ himself.V.fig.Predicated of things.23.To need, require, demand, call for (by its condition).1340Ayenb. 54Be þan þet hare zennes okseþ.1387TrevisaDescr.Brit.(Caxton) 36Whan tyme and place axeth.c1400Destr. Troy xv. 7067He þat tas not his tyme, when þe tyde askes.c1430Hymns toVirg.(1867) 61Quod conscience, þat axiþ coost.1596Shakes.Tam. Shr. ii. i. 15Signior Baptista, my businesse asketh haste.1598BarretTheor. Warres i. i. 7These three matters handled would aske a great volume.1615MarkhamEng.Housw. (1660) 81The Veal will aske a double quantity of Suet.1623SandersonSerm.AdMag.i. (1674) 89It will ask some time, yea, and cunning too, to find it out.1697DrydenVirg.Georg. iii. 478Goats of equal Profit are..and ask an equal Care.1780CowperTable T. 559To give a Milton birth ask'd ages more.1880CyplesHum. Exp. vi. 133Limit of time asked for a sensation.†24.To invite, provoke. Obs.c1485DigbyMyst.(1882) iv. 91Such crabyysh wordes do aske a blow.1605CamdenRem. (1637) 303One ill word asketh another. One good turne asketh another.†25.To seek, direct itself toward (lit.trans.of L. petere). Obs.rare.1432–50tr.Higden (1865) I. 63The Redde see..is departede in to ij. armes, of whom the arme Persicalle..dothe aske the northe.▸ don't (even) ask: (as a reply or parenthetic statement) ‘you'd rather not know’, ‘I don't want to go into that’; implying that any explanation would be complicated, absurd, or unwelcome.1977Washington Post 3 Jan. b1Will 1977 be an exciting year? Don't ask.1985J. SullivanOnly Fools & Horses (1999) I. 1stSer.Episode 4. 254Denzil. So how's your luck? Del. Don't ask! Don't ask.1995Independent on Sunday 23 Apr. (Rev.Suppl.) 54/4,I had sweet potato, pink peppercorn and allspice bullas—don't ask, something West Indian.2001L. RennisonKnocked out by Nunga-nungas 37Jimmy is a haggis with a scarf on. Don't even ask.▪ II.ask,n.¹Forms: 1 æsce, 3 axe, (?) as.[OE.ǽsce,f.áscian(seeprec.);cf.ODu. esch. As isprob.=ash or ask: see thevb.]Asking, inquiry; thing asked, request.a1000Laws of Athelstan §5 (Thorpe I. 230)Hæfdon ealle ða ǽscean.1205Lay.1053Eouer axe ich eou leue.a1230Juliana 16He failed of his as.1781T. TwiningLet.8 Dec. in Recreat. &Stud.(1882) 108,I am not so unreasonable as to desire you to..answer all my asks.1886‘Cavendish’Whist 127When your three comes down in the next round, it is not an ask for trumps.▸ colloq.(orig.Austral.) (chiefly Sport). With modifying word or phrase, as a big (also huge, etc.) ask: something which is a lot to ask of someone; something difficult to achieve or surmount.Cf.tall order at talladj.8d.1987Sydney Morning Herald 7 May 40/2Four measly pounds is what the critics say. But according to his trainer, Johnny Lewis, that four pounds is ‘a big ask’.1994J. BirminghamHe died with Felafel in his Hand (1997) viii. 177I'd..get him to wear the underpants consistently for six weeks on the road. (This was not a big ask given Milo's unwashed jeans-wearing record at King Street.)2000Rugby World June 25/1It was a huge ask of my players, but their attitude throughout the week prior to the game was superb.2003Gloucester Citizen (Nexis) 1 Feb. 48Every week is a bit of an ask—but the squad is very strong.▪ III.ask,n.²|ˈɑːsk,æ-|Also 4 arske, 4–6 aske, 5 awsk.[Apparently worn down fromOE.áðexe newt (=OS.egithassa,OHG.egidehsa,MHG.egedehse,mod.G. eidechse), the phonetic contraction being paralleled by theGer.dial.edechs, egdes, eges, eckes, given by Grimm III. 83; but no intermediate forms between áðexe and aske, such as áðesce, aðsce, or aðxe, axe, have been found.]A newt or eft; the common name in Scotland, and in the north and north-east of England as far as Morecambe Bay and Lincolnshire. Sometimes applied also to the lizard; always classed among venomous animals, an idea encouraged by a general confusion of ask with asp. See also asker².In the following Glossaries of theEng.Dial.Soc., Cumberland, Swaledale, Mid Yorkshire, Whitby (Ask or Aisk: Fleeing-ask, the dragon-fly:cf.Flying Adder, Flying Dragon), Manley and Corringham (Lincolnsh.)c1325Metr.Hom.141Snakes and nederes thar he fand, And gret blac tades..And arskes and other wormes felle.c1425WyntounCron. i. xiii. 55Nakyn best of venym..as aske or eddyre, tade, or pade.c1450Henryson (Jam.)Cum with me in hy, Edderis, askis, and wormis meit for to be.1501DouglasPal. Hon. i. xxv,The water stank, the feild was odious Quhair dragouns, lessertis, askis, edders, swatterit.1611Florio,Magrasio, an Eft, a Nute, an Aske.1840J. M. WilsonT. of Borders (1851) XX. 31He can lurk in the green moss like the yellow-wamed ask.1876SmilesScotchNat.ii. (ed.4) 44He looked at the beast. It was not an eel. It was very like an ask.