entreats

Entreats is the third-person singular present tense of the verb entreat. Entreat means to ask earnestly or anxiously; to plead or beg someone to do something. The base form is entreat, and the present participle is entreating. A related noun is entreaty, with the plural entreaties.

Usage and nuances: Entreat is formal and literary in tone. It is typically followed by a to-infinitive, as in "He entreats her to reconsider." It can also mean to address someone with supplication or to plead for mercy in ceremonial or dramatic contexts. In contemporary writing, entreat is less common than beg or plead, but it remains appropriate in historical, religious, or stylistically elevated language.

Origins and related terms: The verb dates from the Middle English period and is rooted in older French influence; the noun entreaty shares the same lineage. Related terms include implore, importune, petition, and beseech, all of which convey earnest requests but vary in formality and connotation.

See also: entreaty; synonyms and related concepts include beg, plead, implore, petition. Entreat is most often encountered in historical or literary texts and is valued for its formal, earnest register.