solicit

[ suh-lis-it ]
See synonyms for: solicitsolicitedsoliciting on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to seek to influence or incite to action, especially unlawful or wrong action.

  2. to offer to have sex with in exchange for money.

verb (used without object)
  1. to make a petition or request, as for something desired.

  2. to solicit orders or trade, as for a business: No soliciting allowed in this building.

  1. to offer to have sex with someone in exchange for money.

Origin of solicit

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English soliciten, from Middle French solliciter, from Latin sollicitāre “to excite, agitate,” derivative of sollicitus “troubled” (soll(us) “whole” + -i- -i- + citus, past participle of ciēre “to arouse”)

Other words for solicit

Other words from solicit

  • pre·so·lic·it, verb (used with object)
  • re·so·lic·it, verb
  • su·per·so·lic·it, verb

Words Nearby solicit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use solicit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for solicit

solicit

/ (səˈlɪsɪt) /


verb-its, -iting or -ited
  1. (when intr, foll by for) to make a request, application, or entreaty to (a person for business, support, etc)

  2. to accost (a person) with an offer of sexual relations in return for money

  1. to provoke or incite (a person) to do something wrong or illegal

Origin of solicit

1
C15: from Old French solliciter to disturb, from Latin sollicitāre to harass, from sollicitus agitated, from sollus whole + citus, from ciēre to excite

Derived forms of solicit

  • solicitation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012