entreaty

/ɪnˈtriːti/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈtriːti/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈtrē-tē en-/ (ame, mw)

entreaty — noun

  • entreatysingular
  • entreatiesplural

1. a serious or emotional plea, usually delivered with strong feeling, asking someo

1.名詞C1
釋義

a serious or emotional plea, usually delivered with strong feeling, asking someone to give help, mercy, or a particular response.

例句

Despite Sade's tearful entreaty for forgiveness, the judge refused to reduce the sentence.

entreaty for + noun showing what is being asked for

Esme listened in silence to her brother's entreaties to come home before winter.

entreaty + to-infinitive (plural use)

同義詞
  • plea

    more common; same emotional weight

  • appeal

    more neutral; can be formal/official

  • supplication

    even more formal; suggests humble or worshipful tone

反義詞
  • demand

    forceful; speaker assumes the right to receive

  • command

    speaker has authority to order

文法句型

entreaty for + noun

entreaty to + infinitive

at someone's entreaty

用法筆記

Subject of the entreaty is usually a person in a weak or pleading position (a defendant, a child, a refugee); object is a person with power to grant the request. Frequently followed by 'for + thing requested' or 'to + verb'.

常見錯誤

❌I made an entreaty for a coffee at the cafe.
✅I asked for a coffee at the cafe.
💡entreaty is reserved for serious or emotional pleas, not everyday requests.
❌She gave an entreaty about the weather.
✅She made an entreaty for shelter from the storm.
💡entreaty needs something serious being asked for.

2. an effort to talk someone into doing something through repeated, earnest urging

2.名詞C1
釋義

an effort to talk someone into doing something through repeated, earnest urging rather than a single cry for help.

例句

Layla's gentle entreaties to her uncle finally convinced him to sell the old family farm.

entreaty + to-infinitive (persuasion sense, often plural)

Noa's repeated entreaties failed to talk Piotr out of joining the climb up Everest.

repeated entreaties — sustained persuasion attempt

同義詞
  • persuasion

    more common; describes the activity rather than a specific instance

  • urging

    less formal; same idea of pushing someone toward action

反義詞

文法句型

entreaty to + verb

entreaty that + clause

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is a single emotional cry for help, mercy, or a yes-or-no answer; sense 2 is a sustained effort to change someone's mind, often plural ('entreaties') over time. Sense 2 frequently appears with adverbs of repetition or duration.

常見錯誤

❌After one entreaty, he agreed to move cities.
✅After many entreaties, he agreed to move cities.
💡sense 2 typically implies a process, not a single ask.