solicit

Verb
US[suh-lis-it]/səˈlɪsɪt/3 syllables
Synonyms: begtapwoocourtromancehookaccost

Open English WordNet

Verb (5)solicited, soliciting

  1. make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently“Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce”“My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities”Synonyms: begtapMore general request, ask forMore specific lobby, canvass, quest
  2. make amorous advances towards“John is courting Mary”Synonyms: woocourtromanceMore general act, moveMore specific chase, display
  3. approach with an offer of sexual favors“he was solicited by a prostitute”“The young man was caught soliciting in the park”Synonyms: hookaccostMore general supply, provideSimilar hook, snare
  4. incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination“He was accused of soliciting his colleagues to destroy the documents”More general induce, stimulate
  5. make a solicitation or petition for something desired“She is too shy to solicit”More general ask

Related words beggary noun, wooer noun, suit noun

Word of the day · Oct 18About this word
kindleverb

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

So·lic′it transitive verb [past tense & past participle Solicited; present participle & verbal noun Soliciting.]

Origin: F. sollicier, L. sollicitare, solicitare, -atum, fr. sollicitus wholly (i. e., violently) moved; sollus whole + citus, p. p. of ciere to move, excite. See Solemn, Cite.

1. To ask from with earnestness; to make petition to; to apply to for obtaining something; as, to solicit person for alms.

Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?— John Milton

2. To endeavor to obtain; to seek; to plead for; as, to solicit an office; to solicit a favor.

I view my crime, but kindle at the view, Repent old pleasures, and solicit new.— Alexander Pope

3. To awake or excite to action; to rouse desire in; to summon; to appeal to; to invite.

That fruit... solicited her longing eye.— John Milton
Sounds and some tangible qualities solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind.— John Locke

4. To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to. obsolete

Should My brother henceforth study to forget The vow that he hath made thee, I would ever Solicit thy deserts.— John Ford

5. To disturb; to disquiet; — a Latinism rarely used.

Hath any ill solicited thine ears?— George Chapman
But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.— John Dryden

Synonyms: To beseech; ask; request; crave; supplicate; entreat; beg; implore; importune. See Beseech.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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