Apparently from ereo (compare ereunao); to interrogate; by implication, to request -- ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray. Compare punthanomai.
see GREEK ereo
see GREEK ereunao
see GREEK punthanomai
1. as in Greek writings from Homer down to question: absolutely, Luke 22:68; John 8:7 (R); τινα, John 9:21; John 16:19, 30; (John 18:21 where Rec. ἐπερωτᾷς), etc.; with the addition of λέγων and the words of the questioner: Matthew 16:13; Luke 19:31 (om. λέγων; 2. to ask i. e. to request, entreat, beg, beseech, after the Hebrew שָׁאַל, in a sense very rare in secular authors (Josephus, Antiquities 5, 1, 14 (but here the text is uncertain; substitute Antiquities 7, 8, 1; cf. Dr. Ezra Abbot in No. American Rev. for 1872, p. 173 note); Babrius fab. (42, 3); 97, 3; Apoll. synt., p. 289, 20; cf. Winer's Grammar, pp. 30 and 32): τινα, John 14:16; with the addition of λέγων and the words of the asker, Matthew 15:23; John 12:21; followed by imperative alone (Buttmann, 272f (234)), Luke 14:18; Philippians 4:3; followed by ἵνα (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 44, 8 a.; R. 237 (204)), Mark 7:26; Luke 7:36; Luke 16:27; John 4:47; John 17:15; John 19:31, 38; 2 John 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; by ὅπως, Luke 7:3; Luke 11:37; Acts 23:20; by the infinitive (Buttmann, 258 (222); cf. Winer's Grammar, 335 (315)), Luke 5:3; Luke 8:37; John 4:40; Acts 3:3; Acts 10:48; Acts 23:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; τινα περί τίνος, Luke 4:38; John 16:9, 20; 1 John 5:16; ὑπέρ τίνος (followed by εἰς with an infinitive; cf. Buttmann, 265 (228)), 2 Thessalonians 2:1f; ἐρωτᾶν τά (WH text omits τά) πρός εἰρήνην (see εἰρήνη, 1), Luke 14:32. (Synonym: see αἰτέω, at the end. Compare: διερωτάω, ἐπερωτάω.)