solicit

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: so=lic=it

CIDE DICTIONARY

solicit, v. t. [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.].

•  To ask from with earnestness; to make petition to; to apply to for obtaining something; as, to solicit person for alms.  [1913 Webster]

  "Did I solicit thee
  From darkness to promote me?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To endeavor to obtain; to seek; to plead for; as, to solicit an office; to solicit a favor.  [1913 Webster]

  "I view my crime, but kindle at the view,
  Repent old pleasures, and solicit new."  [1913 Webster]
•  To awake or excite to action; to rouse desire in; to summon; to appeal to; to invite.  [1913 Webster]

  "That fruit . . . solicited her longing eye."  [1913 Webster]

  "Sounds and some tangible qualities solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind."  [1913 Webster]
•  To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to.  [1913 Webster]

  "Should
  My brother henceforth study to forget
  The vow that he hath made thee, I would ever
  Solicit thy deserts."  [1913 Webster]
•  To disturb; to disquiet; -- a Latinism rarely used.  [1913 Webster]

  "Hath any ill solicited thine ears?"  [1913 Webster]

  "But anxious fears solicit my weak breast."  [1913 Webster]

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

OXFORD DICTIONARY

solicit, v. (solicited, soliciting)
1 tr. & (foll. by for) intr. ask repeatedly or earnestly for or seek or invite (business etc.).
2 tr. (often foll. by for) make a request or petition to (a person).
3 tr. accost (a person) and offer one's services as a prostitute.

Derivative

solicitation n.

Etymology

ME f. OF solliciter f. L sollicitare agitate f. sollicitus anxious f. sollus entire + citus past part., = set in motion

THESAURUS

solicit

accost, address, angle for, appeal to, apply, approach, ask, ask for, beg, beseech, bespeak, bid for, call, call on, call upon, canvass, challenge, claim, court, crave, demand, desire, drum, entice, entreat, exact, fish for, go, hustle, implore, importune, look for, lure, make a pass, make advances, make an overture, overture, pander to, petition, pop the question, postulate, pray, proposition, refer, request, require, requisition, resort, seek, sue, sue for, supplicate, throw a pass, turn, woo

ROGET THESAURUS

solicit

Request

VB request, ask, beg, crave, sue, pray, petition, solicit, invite, pop the question, make bold to ask, beg leave, beg a boon, apply to, call to, put to, call upon, call for, make a request, address a request, prefer a request, put up a request, make a prayer, address a prayer, prefer a prayer, put up a prayer, make a petition, address a petition, prefer a petition, put up a petition, make application, make a requisition, ask trouble, ask one for, claim, offer up prayers, whistle for, beg hard, entreat, beseech, plead, supplicate, implore, conjure, adjure, obtest, cry to, kneel to, appeal to, invoke, evoke, impetrate, imprecate, ply, press, urge, beset, importune, dun, tax, clamor for, cry aloud, cry for help, fall on one's knees, throw oneself at the feet of, come down on one's marrowbones, beg from door to door, send the hat round, go a begging, mendicate, mump, cadge, beg one's bread, dance attendance on, besiege, knock at the door, bespeak, canvass, tout, make interest, court, seek, bid for, publish the banns.

Desire

VB desire, wish, wish for, be desirous, have a longing, hope, care for, affect, like, list, take to, cling to, take a fancy to, fancy, prefer, have an eye, have a mind to, find it in one's heart, have a fancy for, set one's eyes upon, cast a sheep's eye upon, look sweet upon, take into one's head, have at heart, be bent upon, set one's cap at, set one's heart upon, set one's mind upon, covet, want, miss, need, feel the want of, would fain have, would fain do, would be glad of, be hungry, have a good appetite, play a good knife and fork, hunger after, thirst after, crave after, lust after, itch after, hanker after, run mad after, raven for, die for, burn to, desiderate, sigh for, cry for, gape for, gasp for, pine for, pant for, languish for, yearn for, long, be on thorns for, hope for, aspire after, catch at, grasp at, jump at, woo, court, solicit, fish for, spell for, whistle for, put up for, ogle, cause desire, create desire, raise desire, excite desire, provoke desire, whet the appetite, appetize, titillate, allure, attract, take one's fancy, tempt, hold out temptation, hold out allurement, tantalize, make one's mouth water, faire venir l'eau a la bouche, gratify desire.