The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ask \Ask\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asked; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Asking.] [OE. asken, ashen, axien, AS. [=a]scian,
   [=a]csian; akin to OS. [=e]sc[=o]n, OHG. eisc[=o]n, Sw.
   [=a]ska, Dan. [ae]ske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith.
   j["e]sk['o]ti, OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire.
   [root]5.]
   1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to
      solicit; -- often with of, in the sense of from, before
      the person addressed.
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            Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God.    --Judg. xviii.
                                                  5.
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            If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye
            shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
            you.                                  --John xv. 7.
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   2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of
      remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as,
      what price do you ask?
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            Ask me never so much dowry.           --Gen. xxxiv.
                                                  12.
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            To whom men have committed much, of him they will
            ask the more.                         --Luke xii.
                                                  48.
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            An exigence of state asks a much longer time to
            conduct a design to maturity.         --Addison.
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   3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a
      question to or about; to question.
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            He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
                                                  --John ix. 21.
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            He asked the way to Chester.          --Shak.
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   4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.
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   5. To publish in church for marriage; -- said of both the
      banns and the persons. --Fuller.
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   Syn: To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat;
        beseech; implore; crave; require; demand; claim;
        exhibit; inquire; interrogate. See Beg.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Asking \Ask"ing\, n.
   1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition;
      solicitation. --Longfellow.
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   2. The publishing of banns.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

asking
    n 1: the verbal act of requesting [syn: request, asking]