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solicit

 - 4 dictionary results

so⋅lic⋅it

  [suh-lis-it]
Use solicit in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to seek for (something) by entreaty, earnest or respectful request, formal application, etc.: He solicited aid from the minister.
2. to entreat or petition (someone or some agency): to solicit the committee for funds.
3. to seek to influence or incite to action, esp. unlawful or wrong action.
4. to offer to have sex with in exchange for money.
–verb (used without object)
5. to make a petition or request, as for something desired.
6. to solicit orders or trade, as for a business: No soliciting allowed in this building.
7. to offer to have sex with someone in exchange for money.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME soliciten < MF solliciter < L sollicitāre to excite, agitate, deriv. of sollicitus troubled (soll(us) whole + -i- -i- + citus, ptp. of ciēre to arouse)

Synonyms:
2. beseech, beg. 3. excite, arouse, provoke.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To solicit
so·lic·it   (sə-lĭs'ĭt)   
v.   so·lic·it·ed, so·lic·it·ing, so·lic·its

v.   tr.

  1. To seek to obtain by persuasion, entreaty, or formal application: a candidate who solicited votes among the factory workers.

  2. To petition persistently; importune: solicited the neighbors for donations.

  3. To entice or incite to evil or illegal action.

  4. To approach or accost (a person) with an offer of sexual services.

v.   intr.

  1. To make solicitation or petition for something desired.

  2. To approach or accost someone with an offer of sexual services in return for payment.


[Middle English soliciten, to disturb, from Old French solliciter, from Latin sollicitāre, from sollicitus, troubled; see solicitous.]
so·lic'i·ta'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

solicit 
c.1422, "to disturb, trouble," from M.Fr. soliciter, from L. solicitare "to disturb, rouse," from sollicitus "agitated," from sollus "whole, entire" + citus "aroused," pp. of ciere "shake, excite, set in motion" (see cite). Meaning "to further (business affairs)" evolved c.1450 from M.Fr. sense of "manage affairs." The sexual sense (often in ref. to prostitutes) is attested from 1701, probably from a merger of the business sense and an earlier sense of "to court or beg the favor of" (a woman), attested from 1591.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: so·lic·it
Pronunciation: s&-'li-s&t
Function: transitive verb
1 : to make petition to <solicit the court>
2 : to ask, induce, advise, or command (a person) to do something and esp. to commit a crime —compare COERCE, IMPORTUNE
3 : to attempt to persuade (a person) to purchase something
4 : to attempt to bring about or obtain by soliciting a person <solicit bribes> intransitive verb 1 : to make solicitation
2 of a prostitute : to offer to have sexual relations with someone for money
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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