SOLICIT
solicit
(verb) make a solicitation or petition for something desired; “She is too shy to solicit”
solicit
(verb) incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination; “He was accused of soliciting his colleagues to destroy the documents”
hook, solicit, accost
(verb) approach with an offer of sexual favors; “he was solicited by a prostitute”; “The young man was caught soliciting in the park”
solicit, beg, tap
(verb) 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”
woo, court, romance, solicit
(verb) make amorous advances towards; “John is courting Mary”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
solicit (third-person singular simple present solicits, present participle soliciting, simple past and past participle solicited)
To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.
To woo; to court.
To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior.
To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment.
To make a petition.
(archaic) To disturb or trouble; to harass.
To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to.
(obsolete, rare) To disturb; to disquiet.
Synonyms
• (to persistently endeavor to obtain an object): supplicate, thig
• (to woo, court): address, romance; see also woo
• (to urge the claims of): plead
• (to disturb, disquiet): worry
• appeal, request
Noun
solicit
(archaic) solicitation
Anagrams
• colitis
Source: Wiktionary
So*lic"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Solicited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Soliciting.] Etym: [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 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. 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. Milton.
Sounds and some tangible qualities solicit their proper senses, and
force an entrance to the mind. Locke.
4. To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with
reference to. [Obs.]
Should My brother henceforth study to forget The vow that he hath
made thee, I would ever Solicit thy deserts. Ford.
5. To disturb; to disquiet; -- a Latinism rarely used.
Hath any ill solicited thine ears Chapman.
But anxious fears solicit my weak breast. Dryden.
Syn. To beseech; ask; request; crave; supplicate; entreat; beg;
implore; importune. See Beseech.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition