supplicate
Americanverb (used without object)
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supplicates,
present (3rd person singular)
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supplicated,
past participle, past
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supplicating
present participle
verb
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to make a humble request to (someone); plead
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(tr) to ask for or seek humbly
Synonym Usage
See appeal.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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presupplicateverb (used with object)
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nonsupplicatingadjective
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supplicatoryadjective
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unsupplicatedadjective
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unsupplicatingadjective
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supplicatinglyadverb
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unsupplicatinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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supplicatesimple
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supplicatessimple
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have supplicatedperfect
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has supplicatedperfect
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am supplicatingprogressive
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are supplicatingprogressive
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is supplicatingprogressive
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have been supplicatingperfect progressive
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has been supplicatingperfect progressive
Past
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supplicatedsimple
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had supplicatedperfect
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was supplicatingprogressive
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were supplicatingprogressive
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had been supplicatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of supplicate
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin supplicātus “knelt,” past participle of supplicāre “to kneel,” from supplic-, stem of supplex “submissive, suppliant” ( see supple) + -āre, infinitive verb suffix
Explanation
If you don’t get the grade you were hoping for on your paper, you could try to rewrite it, or you could meet with your teacher and supplicate. Your humble requests for an ‘A’ may or may not work. This verb is derived from the Latin supplicare, “to kneel.” People often supplicate to God for help in the form of prayer, or supplicate to a judge for a lesser sentence. It is usually an earnest petition made to an authority figure and can be perfectly respectable or can be somewhat pitiful, like begging.
Vocabulary lists containing supplicate
Instead of "Said": Words for Asking and Offering
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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Namo Buddha, I supplicate the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the three times and ten directions to bestow Their blessings upon Your Majesties.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2023
“All the statements from Kirill are constantly, ‘Let’s do things peacefully, lets pray and supplicate.’
From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2022
And if it would help to fall at her feet and supplicate myself, I would.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 28, 2019
So dire was Britain's economic predicament that it had been humiliatingly obliged to supplicate for a loan from the International Monetary Fund.
From US News ● Jul. 14, 2016
Infidele," he thereupon began, "I have overcome all obstacles, in order to throw myself at your feet and supplicate your forgiveness.
From Titan: A Romance Vol. II (of 2) by Jean Paul
The starving parent supplicates the young and vigorous child for bread.
From The American Union Speaker by John D. (John Dudley) Philbrick
Ben Azai says, “four, two at his entrance, and two at his departure; he returns thanks for the past, and supplicates for the future.”
From Hebrew Literature by Epiphanius Wilson
A Trojan prince, seized by Achilles in the battle, falls at his feet, and in moving terms supplicates for life.
From The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume 04 The Adventurer; The Idler by Samuel Johnson
Sir, a wretch who has lost everything dear, supplicates your compassion.
From The Fairy Book The Best Popular Stories Selected and Rendered Anew by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
In Homer we see Priam kissing the hands and embracing the knees of Achilles, while he supplicates for the body of Hector.
From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2 by Isaac Disraeli
A lama supplicated the heavenly waters by burning incense before an altar for three days.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Brain,” she supplicated faintly, “Brain, do you hear me?”
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
Muchel protested, appealed, supplicated, but it availed him nothing; Henny had to suffer imprisonment because of the great courage she had shown.
From An Old Story of My Farming Days Vol. III (of III). (Ut Mine Stromtid) by Fritz Reuter
How have I supplicated all the saints in heaven to preserve you, to watch over you!
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846 by Various
The bride had supplicated for me at Nykjöbing, but had not gained her object.
From Memoirs of Leonora Christina Daughter of Christian IV. of Denmark; Written During Her Imprisonment in the Blue Tower at Copenhagen 1663-1685 by Leonora Christina Ulfeldt
The windows do away with the plaintive or supplicating figures more common to Christian stained glass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2023
From noon to midnight, it is alive with the buzz of crowded restaurants, supplicating panhandlers, weaving motorcycles, and pushy vendors.
From The Verge ● Aug. 11, 2022
As I do them, moving my legs one way, my arms the other, bending and supplicating my spine, I can hear my sacral joints clicking, realigning, settling themselves, speaking to me.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 6, 2018
Delicacy and sweetness are supplicating, but true fury is profound.
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 15, 2018
“We won’t make any decisions until you get back from your trip,” Ma said with a supplicating note to her words.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
