solicit

[ suh-lis-it ]

/ səˈlɪs ɪt /

verb (used with object)

to seek for (something) by entreaty, earnest or respectful request, formal application, etc.: He solicited aid from the minister.

to entreat or petition (someone or some agency): to solicit the committee for funds.

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

to offer to have sex with in exchange for money.

verb (used without object)

to make a petition or request, as for something desired.

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

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

Words nearby solicit

solferino, solfège, solgel, soli, soli-, solicit, solicitation, solicitor, solicitor general, solicitous, solicitude

Origin of solicit

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

SYNONYMS FOR solicit

2 beseech, beg.

3 excite, arouse, provoke.

OTHER WORDS FROM solicit

pre·so·lic·it, verb (used with object)re·so·lic·it, verbsu·per·so·lic·it, verbun·so·lic·it·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for solicits

Attorney to Sir William Belfond, who solicits his business and receives all his packets.
Dramatic Technique|George Pierce Baker
In a popular Swedish song, hydromel is offered to the messenger crow; instead of this, it solicits small grains for its young.
Zoological Mythology (Volume II)|Angelo de Gubernatis
It is for this that he struggles, erects altars, and solicits aid from visionary as well as from divine sources.
Nature and Culture|Harvey Rice
The author, sensible of these difficulties, solicits indulgence for such errors as have escaped her vigilance.
Tales And Novels, Volume 1 (of 10)|Maria Edgeworth

Canius then becomes excited; he presses, solicits Pythius to sell him the house.
Elements of Morals|Paul Janet

British Dictionary definitions for solicits

solicit

/ (səˈlɪsɪt) /

verb -its, -iting or -ited

(when intr, foll by for) to make a request, application, or entreaty to (a person for business, support, etc)

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

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

Derived forms of solicit

solicitation, noun

Word Origin for solicit

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

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