Word of the day: Bespoke

[Jace]

Adj. Chiefly Brit.
1. Made-to-order
2.Dealing in custom-made articles.

 

[Devi]

I'd heard Brits using the term "bespoke" before.

 

[ohioboy]

"The tears on my pillow bespeak the pain that is in my heart."

 

[Pepper]

Happened to find this witty article "condemning" (lol) the word 'bespoke'. The NYTimes has a similar article. This one is from the Observer:

Humanity, Can We All Please Stop Abusing the Word ‘Bespoke’?​

"It’s a great time to be alive for elite admirers of the Gilded Age, and the rapid rise of the word “bespoke” bespeaks this. Consider this very fair question: Why say “made to order” or “custom-made” when, instead, you can sound like an asshole and say “bespoke”?"
https://observer.com/2015/11/humanity-can-we-all-please-stop-abusing-the-word-bespoke/

 

[Kaila]

I thought that this word, bespoke, more commonly indicates the meaning in the above post #3; Something that conveys a deep meaning, without any words or verbal, or possibly without even any auditory or any form of language at all.

Such as:

Her facial expression bespoke the years of grieving, which she'd barely managed to endure, since having lost her family and home.

Or the above:

"The tears on my pillow bespeak the pain that is in my heart."

Perhaps it is sometimes also used to convey the other meanings noted in the other above posts?

 

[Pepper]

In Shakespearian times: https://www.shakespeareswords.com/Public/Glossary.aspx?letter=b
Bespeak

bespeak (v.), past forms bespake, bespoke
ask, request, entreat

bespoke (v.)
past form of 'bespeak'

 

[ohioboy]

"The tears on my pillow bespeak the pain that is in my heart."

I borrowed mine from Barney Fife.

 

[Kaila]

In Shakespearian times: https://www.shakespeareswords.com/Public/Glossary.aspx?letter=b
Bespeak

bespeak (v.), past forms bespake, bespoke
ask, request, entreat

bespoke (v.)
past form of 'bespeak'

Very interesting! Thanks for that input!
The historical usage is fascinating.

Do the meanings cited in the OP above and in the other posts,
(custom made; made-to-order)
for the word bespoke reflect current, modern usage?
Or are there simply multiple meanings?

 

[Paco Dennis]

“A Loud Laugh Bespeaks a Vacant Mind!”​

Guess who? Hint...W.S.