v.
Pronunciation: s ə - ' li-s ə t
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, to disturb, promote, from Anglo-French solliciter, from Latin sollicitare to disturb, from sollicitus anxious, from sollus whole (fr. Oscan; akin to Greek holos whole) + citus, past participle of ci ē re to move ― more at SAFE , -KINESIS
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1 a : to make petition to : ENTREAT b : to approach with a request or plea < solicit ed Congress for funding>
2 : to urge (as one's cause) strongly
3 a : to entice or lure especially into evil b : to proposition (someone) especially as or in the character of a prostitute
4 : to try to obtain by usually urgent requests or pleas < solicit ed donations>
intransitive verb
1 : to make solicitation : IMPORTUNE
2 of a prostitute : to offer to have sexual relations with someone for money
synonyms see ASK