I. pə̇ˈtishən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English peticioun, from Middle French petition, from Latin petition-, petitio, from petitus (past participle of petere to go to or toward, seek, request) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at feather
1.
a. : an earnest request : entreaty , supplication
listens with a vinegar aspect to your petition for shelter — C.E.Montague
b.
(1) : a solemn prayer to God
our petition in the litany against sudden death — John Ruskin
(2) : a single clause in such a prayer
2.
a. : a formal written request addressed to an official person or organized body:
(1) : a bill in the form of a request by which Parliament formerly presented measures for the king's granting
(2) : a formal written request addressed to a sovereign or political superior for a particular grace or right
(3) : a formal written request addressed to a magistrate or court praying for preliminary, incidental, or final specific relief and setting forth the facts or reasons therefor
(4) : a formal statement of a cause of action that is addressed to a court or magistrate and is based on a statute or on an extraordinary remedy for which common-law declarations cannot be invoked or is founded on equity, probate, or ecclesiastical jurisdiction
(5) civil law : complaint
b. : a document embodying a formal written request
3. : the act or action of formally asking or humbly requesting
an ancient right guaranteed by the early state constitutions … is that of petition — Harvey Walker
4. : something asked or requested
I make thee promise, … thou receivest thy full petition — Shakespeare
Synonyms: see prayer
II. verb
( petitioned ; petitioned ; petitioning -sh(ə)niŋ ; petitions )
transitive verb
1. : to make a request to : entreat ; especially : to make a formal written request to
the right of the people … to petition the government for a redress of grievances — U.S. Constitution
2. : to make a request for : solicit
all that I hope, petition , or expect — George Crabbe †1832
intransitive verb
: to make a request ; especially : to make a formal written request
she neither petitioned for her right nor claimed it — George Meredith