Prithee is a formal archaic verb meaning 'I pray thee' or 'please.' Used primarily in historical or literary contexts, it functions as a polite imperative. In modern reading or performance, it signals a Shakespearean or antique register and is typically found in phrase fragments like 'Prithee, tell me' or 'Prithee, sir, proceed.' It’s now largely ceremonial, reserved for stylistic or dramatized speech rather than everyday use.
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