entreaty
C2Formal / Literary
Definition
Meaning
A serious and often emotional request or plea for something.
A sincere and earnest appeal made with a sense of urgency or desperation, typically to influence someone's behavior or decision.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a strong connotation of humility, urgency, or emotional intensity. It often implies the requestor is in a subordinate or powerless position. The word is most effective when describing a plea made in a serious situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British literary contexts but remains a formal word in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally formal and somewhat archaic/literary in both dialects.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both the UK and US; primarily found in formal writing, literature, and diplomatic language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
entreaty to (somebody)entreaty for (something)entreaty from (somebody)despite/ignoring (somebody's) entreatyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fall on deaf ears (e.g., His entreaties fell on deaf ears.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in high-stakes negotiation or a formal appeal to a board, e.g., 'The CEO's entreaty to the shareholders failed to avert the takeover.'
Academic
Found in historical, literary, or political science texts analyzing appeals, diplomacy, or rhetoric.
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual conversation. Would sound formal or deliberately dramatic.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She entreated him to reconsider his decision to leave the firm.
American English
- I entreat you, listen to what the evidence is telling us.
adverb
British English
- He looked at her entreatingly, but she remained resolute.
American English
- She spoke entreatingly, hoping her words would find a sympathetic ear.
adjective
British English
- She spoke in an entreating tone, hoping to change his mind.
American English
- He gave her an entreating look, silently begging for help.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His entreaty for help was ignored.
- She made an entreaty to the judge for mercy.
- Despite the desperate entreaties of his advisors, the king refused to surrender.
- All her entreaties to come home early fell on deaf ears.
- The ambassador's impassioned entreaty for a ceasefire was met with stony silence in the security council.
- He was unmoved by her tearful entreaties, his decision already irrevocably made.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TREATY between nations as a formal agreement. An ENTREATY is the formal, often desperate, asking that happens *before* a treaty is signed.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A JOURNEY ('His entreaty went unanswered'), REQUESTS ARE PHYSICAL OBJECTS ('She flung her entreaty at him').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "просьба" (pros'ba) which is a neutral, everyday request. "Entreaty" is closer to "умоляющая просьба", "мольба", "ходатайство" (in a formal appeal sense).
- The verb "to entreat" (умолять) is more common than the noun "entreaty".
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'intreaty' (archaic).
- Using it for a simple, casual request (register error).
- Confusing with 'treaty' (a formal agreement).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following situations best exemplifies an 'entreaty'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word primarily used in writing, literature, and formal speeches. In everyday conversation, 'plea' or 'appeal' are more common.
A 'request' is neutral and general. An 'entreaty' is a specific type of request that is serious, earnest, and often emotional or humble, implying urgency or a power imbalance.
It is very rare. It would only be appropriate in an extremely formal, high-stakes context, such as a last-ditch appeal to avoid bankruptcy or a hostile takeover, where the tone is deliberately dramatic or solemn.
The most common prepositions are 'to' (directed at a person: an entreaty *to* the king) and 'for' (concerning a thing: an entreaty *for* peace). 'From' is also used (an entreaty *from* his mother).