What does entreaty mean?
Entreaty is a formal noun denoting an earnest, urgent plea — a request made with such sincerity or emotion that it rises above ordinary asking. It typically implies a power imbalance: one entreats a ruler, a judge, a creditor, or anyone whose mercy, favor, or cooperation is not guaranteed. The word is at home in literary, legal, and historical registers, and it frequently appears in the plural, as in "their entreaties went unanswered." Its tone can convey desperation, humility, or deep conviction, depending on context. Derived from the verb "entreat," which traces back through Old French "traiter" (to treat) to Latin "tractare" (to handle, deal with), entreaty literally preserves the idea of negotiating or dealing with someone — but by heartfelt persuasion rather than force. For writers seeking elevated diction, it offers a more weighty alternative to "request" or "ask."
nounAn earnest or urgent request, appeal, or plea, especially one made to someone in authority or with the power to grant it.
- An earnest, often emotional request or plea made to someone with the authority or willingness to help.
"Despite her tearful entreaties, the judge refused to postpone the hearing."
"He fell to his knees in a desperate entreaty for mercy."
"All their entreaties to reconsider went unheeded."
The plural is common, especially when referring to repeated appeals.
"Her entreaties finally persuaded him to stay."
Entreaty carries a built-in power imbalance: you don't entreat an equal, you entreat someone who holds all the cards.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of entreaty
Entreaty derives from the verb "entreat," which entered English from Anglo-Norman and Old French "entraitier" ("entraiter"), meaning to treat, negotiate, or deal with. The French verb combines the intensive prefix "en-" with "traitier," from Latin "tractare," a frequentative of "trahere" (to draw or drag), hence "to handle." The noun entreaty was formed within English in the late Middle English period. Cognates sharing this Latin root include treaty, treat, retreat, and extract.
Related word forms
How entreaty is actually used
Formal and somewhat literary register; common in narrative prose and historical writing. Often appears in the plural ("entreaties"). Carries connotations of urgency and sometimes desperation on the speaker's part.
Easily confused with entreaty
"Entry" means an act of entering or a record in a list, whereas "entreaty" is an earnest plea — they share letters but nothing else.