Speak v. i. [imp. Spoke (Spake Archaic); p. p. Spoken (Spoke, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n. Speaking.]
 1. To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so obstructed that a man may not be able to speak.
    Till at the last spake in this manner.   --Chaucer.
    Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.   --1 Sam. iii. 9.
 2. To express opinions; to say; to talk; to converse.
    That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set, as the tradesmen speak.   --Boyle.
    An honest man, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not.   --Shak.
    During the century and a half which followed the Conquest, there is, to speak strictly, no English history.   --Macaulay.
 3. To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to adress a public assembly formally.
    Many of the nobility made themselves popular by speaking in Parliament against those things which were most grateful to his majesty.   --Clarendon.
 4. To discourse; to make mention; to tell.
    Lycan speaks of a part of Caesar's army that came to him from the Leman Lake.   --Addison.
 5. To give sound; to sound.
    Make all our trumpets speak.   --Shak.
 6. To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by utterance; as, features that speak of self-will.
    Thine eye begins to speak.   --Shak.
 To speak of, to take account of, to make mention of. --Robynson (More's Utopia).
 To speak out, to speak loudly and distinctly; also, to speak unreservedly.
 To speak well for, to commend; to be favorable to.
 To speak with, to converse with. “Would you speak with me?” --Shak.
 Syn: -- To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce; utter.