beseechingly
UK[bɪˈsiːtʃɪŋli]US[bɪˈsiːtʃɪŋli]
adv
in a way that shows you are asking someone for something in an anxious or urgent way
Morpheme Breakdown
be
seech
ingly
be
seech
ingly
Etymology
the word 'beseechingly' is built upon the verb 'beseech', which entered middle english as 'bisechen'. this verb was formed by combining the old english intensive prefix 'be-' with the middle english 'sechen' or 'seken', meaning 'to seek'. the root 'seken' itself evolved from old english 'sēcan', meaning to seek, visit, or attack, which has proto-germanic origins. the '-ingly' suffix is a standard english adverbial ending, attached to the present participle 'beseeching'. thus, the literal sense of 'seeking intensely' evolved into the modern meaning of asking earnestly or imploring, with 'beseechingly' describing the manner of such an urgent entreaty.
Analysis
Structure: be + seech + ingly
be- (old english): an intensifying or completive prefix, often used to form verbs from other parts of speech.
seech (middle english): a variant of the root 'seek', meaning to ask or entreat.
ingly (middle english): a suffix forming adverbs from present participles or adjectives, meaning 'in a manner of'.
Examples
she looked at him beseechingly, hoping he would change his mind.
the dog whined beseechingly at the dinner table.
he spoke beseechingly, his voice full of desperation.