v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Asked p. pr. & vb. n. Asking. ] [ OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. āscian, ācsian; akin to OS. ēscōn, OHG. eiscōn, Sw. āska, Dan. æske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith. jëskóti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire. √5. ] 1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; -- often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God. Judg. xviii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John xv. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price do you ask? [ 1913 Webster ]

Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke xii. 48. [ 1913 Webster ]

An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to or about; to question. [ 1913 Webster ]

He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. John ix. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

He asked the way to Chester. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To publish in church for marriage; -- said of both the banns and the persons. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Asker. ] (Zool.) A water newt. [ Scot. & North of Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To request or petition; -- usually followed by for; as, to ask for bread. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ask, and it shall be given you. Matt. vii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; -- sometimes followed by after. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name? Gen. xxxii. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To turn aside. [ Poet. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

O, how are they wrapped in with infamies
That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } adv. [ Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways, schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint. ] Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or suspicion. [ 1913 Webster ]

They dart away; they wheel askance. Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

My palfrey eyed them askance. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both . . . were viewed askance by authority. Gladstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. toward the side, rather than directly ahead; -- used of a glance.
Syn. -- askance, sidelong. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ A corruption of AS. a&unr_;exe lizard, newt. ] (Zool.) An ask; a water newt. [ Local Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who asks; a petitioner; an inquirer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. & a. [ Pref. a- + skew. ] Awry; askance; asquint; oblique or obliquely; -- sometimes indicating scorn, or contempt, or entry. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The publishing of banns. [ 1913 Webster ]