SPEAK, v.i. pret. spoke, [spake, nearly, obs.] pp. spoke, spoken. It is easy to see that the root of this word is allied to that of beak peak, pick.]

1. To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words. Children learn to speak at an early age. The organs may be so obstructed that a man may not be able to speak. Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. – 1 Sam. iii.
2. To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to utter thoughts in a public assembly. A man may be well informed on a subject, and yet too diffident to speak in public. Many of the nobility made themselves popular by speaking in parliament against those things which were most grateful to his majesty. – Clarendon.
3. To talk; to express opinions; to dispute. An honest man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when the knave is not. – Shak.
4. To discourse; to make mention of. Lucan speaks of a part of Cesar's army that came to him from the Leman lake. – Addison. The Scripture speaks only of those to whom it speaks. – Hammond.
5. To give sound. Make all your trumpets speak. – Shak. To speak with, to converse with. Let me speak with my son.

1. To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately; as human beings. They sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him. – Job ii. Speak the word, and my son shall be healed. – Matth. viii.
2. To declare; to proclaim; to celebrate. It is thy father's music / To speak your deeds. Shak.
3. To talk or converse in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation. A man may know how to read and to understand a language which he can not speak.
4. To address; to accost. He will smile upon thee, put thee in hope, and speak thee fair. – Ecclus.
5. To exhibit; to make known. Let heaven's wide circuit speak / The Maker's high magnificence. – Milton.
6. To express silently or by signs. The lady's looks or eyes speak the meaning or wishes of her heart.
7. To communicate; as, to speak peace to the soul. To speak a ship, to hail and speak to her captain or commander. Note. We say, to speak a word or syllable, to speak a sentence, an oration, piece, composition, or a dialogue, to speak a man's praise, &c.; but we never say, to speak an argument, a sermon, or a story.

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.
   
   

   Till at the last spake in this manner. Chaucer.

   Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. 1 Sam. iii. 9.

2. To utter with the mouth; to pronounce; to utter articulately, as human beings.
   
   

   They sat down with him upn ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him. Job. ii. 13.

3. 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.

4. To utter in a word or words; to say; to tell; to declare orally; as, to speak the truth; to speak sense.
5. 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.

6. To declare; to proclaim; to publish; to make known; to exhibit; to express in any way.
   
   

   It is my father;s muste
   To speak your deeds. Shak.

   Speaking a still good morrow with her eyes. Tennyson.

   And for the heaven's wide circuit, let it speak
   The maker's high magnificence. Milton.

   Report speaks you a bonny monk. Sir W. Scott.

7. To discourse; to make mention; to tell.
   
   

   Lycan speaks of a part of Cæsar's army that came to him from the Leman Lake. Addison.

8. To talk or converse in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation; as, to speak Latin.
   
   

   And French she spake full fair and fetisely. Chaucer.

9. To give sound; to sound.
   
   

   Make all our trumpets speak. Shak.

10. To address; to accost; to speak to.
    
    

    [He will] thee in hope; he will speak thee fair. Ecclus. xiii. 6.

    each village senior paused to scan
    And speak the lovely caravan. Emerson.

    To speak a ship (Naut.), to hail and speak to her captain or commander.

11. To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by utterance; as, features that speak of self-will.
    
    

    Thine eye begins to speak. Shak.

    To speak of, to take account of, to make mention of. Robynson (More's Utopia). -- 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. "Would you speak with me?" Shak.

    Syn. -- To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce; utter.