What is "to speak well for"

Speak \Speak\, v. i. [imp. Spoke( SpakeArchaic); p. p. Spoken( Spoke, Obs. or Colloq.); p. pr. & vb. n. Speaking.] [OE. speken, AS. specan, sprecan; akin to OF.ries. spreka, D. spreken, OS. spreken, G. sprechen, OHG. sprehhan, and perhaps to Skr. sph[=u]rj to crackle, to thunder. Cf. Spark of fire, Speech.]

1. To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words; as, the organs may be so obstructed that a man may not be able to speak.

   Till at the last spake in this manner.
   --Chaucer.

   Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.
   --1 Sam. iii. 9.

2. To express opinions; to say; to talk; to converse.

   That fluid substance in a few minutes begins to set, as the tradesmen speak.
   --Boyle.

   An honest man, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not.
   --Shak.

   During the century and a half which followed the Conquest, there is, to speak strictly, no English history.
   --Macaulay.

3. To utter a speech, discourse, or harangue; to adress a public assembly formally.

   Many of the nobility made themselves popular by speaking in Parliament against those things which were most grateful to his majesty.
   --Clarendon.

4. To discourse; to make mention; to tell.

   Lycan speaks of a part of C[ae]sar's army that came to him from the Leman Lake.
   --Addison.

5. To give sound; to sound.

   Make all our trumpets speak.
   --Shak.

6. To convey sentiments, ideas, or intelligence as if by utterance; as, features that speak of self-will.

   Thine eye begins to speak.
   --Shak.

   To speak of, to take account of, to make mention of.
   --Robynson (More's Utopia).

   To speak out, to speak loudly and distinctly; also, to speak unreservedly.

   To speak well for, to commend; to be favorable to.

   To speak with, to converse with. ``Would you speak with me?''
   --Shak.

   Syn: To say; tell; talk; converse; discourse; articulate; pronounce; utter.