solicit

From Middle French solliciter, from Latin sollicitāre, present active participle of sollicitō (“stir, disturb; look after”), from sollicitus (“agitated, anxious, punctilious”, literally “thoroughly moved”), from sollus (“whole, entire”) + perfect passive participle of cieō (“shake, excite, cite, to put in motion”).

• enPR: sə-lĭs'ĭt
• IPA^(key): /səˈlɪsɪt/

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• Rhymes: -ɪsɪt

solicit (third-person singular simple present solicits, present participle soliciting, simple past and past participle solicited)

1. To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.

   to solicit alms, or a favour

   • (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope

     I view my crime, but kindle at the view, / Repent old pleasures, and solicit new.

     Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?

2. To woo; to court.
3. To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     That fruit […] solicited her longing eye.

   • (Can we date this quote?) John Locke

     Sounds and some tangible qualities solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind.

   If you want to lose your virginity, you should try to solicit some fine looking women.

4. To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment.

   My girlfriend tried to solicit me for sex, but I was tired.

5. To make a petition.
6. (archaic) To disturb or trouble; to harass.
7. To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Ford

     Should / My brother henceforth study to forget / The vow that he hath made thee, I would ever / Solicit thy deserts.

8. (obsolete, rare) To disturb; to disquiet.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Chapman

     Hath any ill solicited thine ears?

   • (Can we date this quote?) Dryden

     But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.

• solicit in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• solicit in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

solicit

1. (archaic) solicitation

• colitis