▪ I. asking, vbl. n.
(ˈɑːskɪŋ, æ-)
Forms: 1 ásc-, ácsung, 3 ax-, escunge, ascing, 4–5 ask-, axyng(e, 4–6 askinge, 5– asking: other variants of the root as in ask.
[f. ask v.: see -ing1.]
1. The action of putting a question, interrogation, inquiry.
| c 885 K. ælfred Boeth. xxxix. §4 Hit is þeaw þære spræce and þære ácsunge. ― Boeth. Metr. xxii. 41 Mid ascunga. c 1230 Ancr. R. 338 Of þe axunge mei uallen vuel. c 1225 St. Marherete (1866) 16 Stew þe, steorue, ant stille beo þin escunge. c 1380 Wyclif Wicket 15 The puttynge awaye of fylthenes of the fleshe, and the axynge of good conscience. [Cf. 1 Pet. iii. 21 (revised) interrogation.] 1794 Burns Let. in Wks. (Globe) 549 Do not miss asking for him. |
† 2. An inquiry, a question. Obs.
| c 1325 Metr. Hom. 35 Quen Crist thair asking herd, Ful mildely he thaim ansuerd. c 1410 tr. Bonaventura's Myrrour (Pynson) viii. D j, Our lady..answereth sadly and shortly to theyr askynges. |
3. The action of requesting a favour, gift, etc.; praying, begging.
| c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 11 After clepenge and ascinge. 1340 Ayenb. 198 He deþ bet þet yefþ wyþoute aksinge. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. i. 4 Bestowing on him, at his asking, The Archbishopricke of Toledo. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth I. 34 A lass that may be had for the asking. |
4. A petition, prayer, a supplication. arch.
| c 1300 Cursor M. 3301 Þine asking Es noght bot a litell thing. 1388 Wyclif Bar. ii. 14 Lord here thou oure axyngis and our preyeris. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 101 He neuer denyed hem her petycyons and askynges. 1513 Douglas æneis ix. iii. 53 Grant this ane axing quhilk I the requeyr. 1607 Shakes. Cor. i. vi. 65 Yet dare I neuer Deny your asking. 1860 Tennyson Tithonus 16 Then didst thou grant mine asking with a smile. |
† 5. A price asked, a demand. Obs.
| 1615 T. Adams White Devil 59 He makes his owne price, for they gave him his asking. 1637 Sanderson 21 Serm. Ad Aul. v. (1673) 71 Naboth shall have his own asking. |
† 6. a. An appeal; a calling for justice, or to the law. b. Oppression, exaction. Obs.
| 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle i. viii. 6 In euery ryghtwys court..admytted to maken his compleynt, and purpoos his askynge. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. cxxxiv. 114 He did grete destruction to holy chirche thurugh wrongful taking and axyngs. |
7. The publication of banns of marriage. famil.
| 1727–51 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Banns, The publication of banns (popularly called asking in the church). 1824 Byron Juan xvi. lxxxviii, At the third asking of the bans He started. 1865 B. Brierley Irkdale II. 187 The ‘askings’ had been called over three consecutive Sundays. |
8. asking price (asking rate), the price (or rate) asked for or set by the seller. Cf. ask v. 9 b.
| 1755 Mrs. C. Charke Life 151, I flew..to all the Brokers in Town, to buy my Houshold Furniture, gave the asking Price for every thing I bought. 1852 Harper's Mag. V. 534/1 The merchants..have two prices—an ‘asking price’ and a ‘taking price’. 1924 Times Trade & Engin. Suppl. 29 Nov. 242/4 This is higher than recent f.o.b. sales for this autumn's delivery, but about {pstlg}2 a standard lower than the ‘asking’ prices at the commencement. 1930 Economist 10 May 1051/1 The asking rate on 90-day bankers' bills has been cut to 27/8 per cent. |
▪ II. ˈasking, ppl. a.
[f. ask v. + -ing2.]
a. That asks; inquiring, begging, suppliant.
| 1735 Pope Prol. Sat. 412 Explore the thought, explain the asking eye. c 1750 Shenstone Elegy xx. 70 Shall, vainly suppliant, spread his asking hand. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc ii. 187 The asking eye of hunger. 1813 Byron Corsair iii. xvi, With many an asking smile, and wondering stare. |
b. asking bid (see quot. 1936).
| 1936 E. Culbertson Contr. Bridge 15 Asking Bid, an artificial bid requesting specific information in the asked suit. 1959 Reese & Dormer Bridge Player's Dict. 16 Asking-bids are a conventional way of locating controls for slam purposes. |