Definition of "bespeak"

[They] bespoke dangers […] in order to scare the allies.

1711, Jonathan Swift, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 3, The Examiner, Number 44, page 244

But to bespeak of a love, heavily weighed upon a heart, toward someone opposing those sentiments encourages foolish and embarrassing repercussions he will never know about.

2006, Janet Jaymes, Dirty Laundry: A Memoir

concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his favour

1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […]

I walked on into the village, with the desertion of this house upon my mind, and I found the landlord of the little inn, sanding his door-step. I bespoke breakfast, and broached the subject of the house.

1859, Charles Dickens, The Haunted House

Then ſtaring on her with a ghaſtly Look, / And hollow Voice, he thus the Queen beſpoke.

1717, John Dryden, “Book XI. [The House of Sleep.]”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], page 401

When the abbot of St. Martin was born, he had so little the figure of a man that it bespake him rather a monster.

1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 3, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […]

Turning her looks unconsciously to that part of the assembly where Douglas leaned, engaged in serious contemplation, Ellina chanced to encounter his eye intently fixed upon her; the expression of which bespeaking at once pity and benevolence, her heart, mortified, reproached her for her lightness.

1838, [Letitia Elizabeth] Landon (indicated as editor), chapter XVI, in Duty and Inclination: […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], page 228

This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking. […] He was smooth-faced, and his fresh skin and well-developed figure bespoke the man in good physical condition through active exercise, yet well content with the world's apportionment.

1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company

Are they telling your story vividly, strikingly, in designs that command attention, in colors that bespeak distinction?

1921, Printers' Ink, volume 114, page 50

[...] the drop in speed only from 66 to 53 m.p.h. up the six miles at 1 in 176-200-167 to Saunderton summit bespoke a hard effort, [...]

1961 February, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, page 87

"By the bye, I've been thinking of bringing out that piece of yours on her bespeak night.""When?" asked Nicholas."The night of her bespeak. Her benefit night. When her friends and patrons bespeak the play.""Oh! I understand," replied Nicholas.

1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839