solicit
- 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.
- 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.
Origin of solicit
Synonyms
See more synonyms for solicit on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for solicits
Historical Examples
He solicits me, 'To engage my honour to him never to have Mr. Solmes.'
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
Through the first the world daily solicits our appetite with its food and drink.
Holy in ChristAndrew Murray
What is to be done with Egesippus who solicits some employment?
The 'Characters' of Jean de La BruyreJean de La Bruyre
But none of them solicits me to stop until the Palazzo Braschi comes into view.
Idling in ItalyJoseph Collins
Canius then becomes excited; he presses, solicits Pythius to sell him the house.
Elements of MoralsPaul Janet
solicit
- (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
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for solicits
solicit
v.
early 15c., "to disturb, trouble," from Middle French soliciter (14c.), from Latin sollicitare "to disturb, rouse, trouble, harass; stimulate, provoke," from sollicitus "agitated," from sollus "whole, entire" + citus "aroused," past participle of ciere "shake, excite, set in motion" (see cite). Related: Solicited; soliciting.
Meaning "entreat, petition" is from 1520s. Meaning "to further (business affairs)" evolved mid-15c. from Middle French sense of "manage affairs." The sexual sense (often in reference to prostitutes) is attested from 1710, probably from a merger of the business sense and an earlier sense of "to court or beg the favor of" (a woman), attested from 1590s.