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I would have thought so, too. In fact, I did. But I was wrong. "Beg" does
mean "ask for." But "beg the question" does not. Webster's Collegiate, 3a:
"evade, sidestep <begged the real problems>." And 3b: "to assume a
established or proved <beg the question>." I don't believe you'll find a
dictionary that has "beg the question" meaning "ask for the question." Just
another example of the wonder of the English language.
For more info, do a Google search on "beg the question."
(FUT off-topic.debate)
Poultron wrote:
> I would have thought that 'begs' is the same as 'to ask formally'. In fact
> Collins uses the example "beg the question - to put forward an arguement
> that assumes the very point it is supposed to establish, or (and in this
> case) that depends on some other questionable assumption."
>
> 'Beget' means 'to father' or in this case 'to cause or create'. So both
> would be correct. :0) Not sure where you get that 'begs' means 'avoids'
> though....
>
> Oh - and this is from 'Collins Paperback Dictionary, 1995'.
>
> My 1/50th of a dollar.
>
> "Rick Clark" <jrclark@nospam.aol.com> wrote in message
> news:3BAAB8AE.5218364@nospam.aol.com...
> > Just FYI, "Begs the question" means "avoids the question," and not "asks • for the
> > question." This phrase is misused by almost everyone (Check your • dictionary). It
> > would, however, be correct to say "Begets the question."
>
> <snip>
> > >
> > > Which begs the question (or asks for it nicely, anyway): Has anybody • ever had
> > > any problems with the contacts in 9v train motors getting dirty / • corroded?
> > >
> > > ROSCO
> >
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: 12 volt track
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| I would have thought that 'begs' is the same as 'to ask formally'. In fact Collins uses the example "beg the question - to put forward an arguement that assumes the very point it is supposed to establish, or (and in this case) that depends on some (...) (23 years ago, 24-Sep-01, to lugnet.trains)
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