Webster's English Dictionary

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speak

speak \'spe-k\ \'spo-k\ \'spo--k*n\ \'spe--k*-b*l\ vb or spoke;  or spo.ken 
   or speak.ing [ME speken, fr. OE sprecan, specan; akin to OHG sprehhanX to 
   speak, Gk spharageisthai to crackle 1a: to utter words or articulate sounds 
   with the ordinary voice : TAL K 1b1: to express opinions  1b2: to extend a 
   greeting  1c1: to express oneself before a group  1c2: to address one's 
   remarks {~ to the issue}  2a: to make a written statement  2b: to express 
   oneself  2c: to serve as spokesman  3a: to express feelings by other than 
   verbal means  3b: SIGNAL  3c: to be interesting or attractive : APPEAL  4: 
   to make a request : ASK  5: to make a characteristic or natural sound  6a: 
   TESTIFY  6b: to be indicative or suggestive  1a1: to utter by speaking 
   voice  1a2: to give a recitation of : DECLAIM  1b: to express orally : 
   DECLARE  1c: ADDRESS, ACCOST; esp : HAIL  2: to make known in writing : 
   STATE  3: to use or be able to use in speaking {~s Spanish}  4: to indicate 
   by other than verbal means : REVEAL, SUGGEST  archaic  5: DESCRIBE, DEPICT 
   anging from the least to the most coherent: TALK implies a listener or 
   interlocutor and less formality: CONVERSE implies an interchange of 
   opinions and ideas in talk - speak.able aj SYN syn TALK, CONVERSE: SPEAK 
   may apply to any utterance r