Implore, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Implored; p. pr. & vb. n. Imploring.]
Etymology: [L. implorare; pref. im- in + plorare to cry aloud. See Deplore.]
To call upon, or for, in supplication; to beseech; to prey to, or for, earnestly; to petition with urency; to entreat; to beg; -- followed directly by the word expressing the thing sought, or the person from whom it is sought. Imploring all the gods that reign above. Pope. I kneel, and then implore her blessing. Shak.
Syn. -- To beseech; supplicate; crave; entreat; beg; solicit; petition; prey; request; adjure. See Beseech.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Implore, v. i.
To entreat; to beg; to prey.
Implore, n.
Imploration. [Obs.] Spencer.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for implore; he lists it under ask, plead, pray.
Where he writes about it:
To implore is to ask with weeping and lamentation; to supplicate is to ask, as it were, on bended knees. — from ask
Beseech, entreat, and implore imply impassioned earnestness, with direct and tender appeal to personal considerations. — from plead
Beseech and entreat express great earnestness of petition; implore and supplicate denote the utmost fervency and intensity, supplicate implying also humility. — from pray