Basic Details
Word: Entreaty
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A serious, heartfelt request, often made by someone who is desperate or upset.
Synonyms: plea, appeal, request, petition
How to Spell Entreaty
Syllables: en - treat - y
Tricky part: The middle is the word treat, with ea, and the ending is a plain y. Entreety and entretty are common slips; the plural is entreaties.
Watch out for: entreety, intreaty, entretty, entreatie
Memory tip: Treat is in the middle: en + treat + y. A child's entreaty for a treat is hard to refuse.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The villagers' entreaty for a bridge was finally heard by the government.
Example 2: Despite his son's entreaties, the farmer would not sell the old bullock.
Example 3: She made one last entreaty to the judge for mercy.
Fun Fact
In older English, entreat could simply mean to treat someone, well or badly; the sense of asking earnestly took over later.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to entreaty as used in the sentence:
The old woman's entreaty to the soldiers to spare her house moved even the general.
a) plea
b) order
c) refusal
d) threat
Show answer
a) plea. An entreaty is a heartfelt request, which is what a plea is.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters:
ent_e_ty
a) r, e
b) r, i
c) l, a
d) r, a
Show answer
d) r, a. The middle is the word treat, spelt with ea.
Mingle-Mangle
The jumbled letters in the sentence hide a word. Choose it.
Ignoring every nreteyta from his friends, Kabir set off alone across the desert.
a) treaty
b) entirety
c) eternity
d) entreaty
Show answer
d) entreaty. Entirety needs an i; with an a and a y among eight letters, the jumble gives entreaty.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An entreaty usually comes from someone who is ____.
a) desperate for help
b) laughing at a joke
c) showing off a skill
d) bored and sleepy
Show answer
a) desperate for help
2. Which of these is an entreaty?
a) Close the door when you go out, Ravi.
b) Please, I beg you, let me come with you.
c) What a lovely day it is for a picnic.
d) The train to Jaipur leaves at six tonight.
Show answer
b) Please, I beg you, let me come with you.
