entreaties

Entreaties are earnest pleas or implorations addressed to another person. As a plural noun, entreaties denote multiple such pleas, while the singular entreaty refers to a single act of entreating. The verb entreat means to ask earnestly or beg for something, often appealing to compassion, mercy, or discretion.

Etymology and usage: The word entreat derives from the verb entreat, which developed in Middle English from Old French. In historical texts, entreaties appear in religious, legal, and literary contexts, signaling sincere appeal rather than command. In contemporary usage, entreaties are most often found in formal or literary registers and are less common in everyday speech, where phrases like please or I beg you may be preferred.

Nuance and examples: An entreaty may be directed toward mercy, permission, or action, and it typically conveys humility or earnestness. For example, one might "entreat" a ruler for clemency or "entreat" a neighbor to reconsider a decision. In rhetoric, entreaties function as appeals to an audience’s sympathy or sense of duty, rather than coercive demands.

Related terms: Entreaty is closely related to implore, beseech, plead, and supplicate. While similar, these terms carry subtle shifts in tone and intensity; entreaty often emphasizes moral appeal and personal earnestness. See also petition and appeal for related notions of formal requests.