Alternative forms

• sollicit (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#SOLICITCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#SOLICIT soliciten, solliciten, from Old FrenchCategory:English terms derived from Old French#SOLICIT soliciter, solliciter, borrowed from LatinCategory:English terms derived from Latin#SOLICIT 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”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: sə-lĭs'ĭt, IPA^(key): /səˈlɪsɪt/Category:English 3-syllable words#SOLICITCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#SOLICIT

• Audio (US):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#SOLICIT

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#SOLICIT
• Rhymes: -ɪsɪtCategory:Rhymes:English/ɪsɪt#SOLICITCategory:Rhymes:English/ɪsɪt/3 syllables#SOLICIT

Verb

solicit (third-person singular simple present solicits, present participle soliciting, simple past and past participle solicited)Category:English lemmas#SOLICITCategory:English verbs#SOLICITCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SOLICITCategory:Pages with entries#SOLICITCategory:Pages with 1 entry#SOLICIT

1. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#SOLICIT) To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.

   Synonyms: supplicate, thig

   Coordinate terms: pester, beg, agitate

   to solicit alms, or a favourCategory:English terms with usage examples#SOLICIT

   • 1717, Alexander Pope, “Eloisa to Abelard”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC:

     I view my crime, but kindle at the view,
     Repent old pleasures, and solicit new.
     Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOLICIT

2. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#SOLICIT) To woo; to court.

   Synonyms: address, romance

   • 1960 November, David Morgan, “"Piggyback"—U.S. success story”, in Trains Illustrated, page 683:

     American railroads are not permitted to operate long-haul road routes, but the I.C.C. decision of 1954 did permit them to solicit trailer business in, say, New York for Chicago provided the trailer was piggybacked in between.

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOLICIT

3. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#SOLICIT) To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     That fruit […] sollicited her longing eye.

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOLICIT

   • 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC:
     , Book II, Chapter 1

     Sounds and some tangible qualities fail not to 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.Category:English terms with usage examples#SOLICIT

4. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#SOLICIT) To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment.

   My girlfriend tried to solicit me for sex, but I was tired.Category:English terms with usage examples#SOLICIT

5. To make a petition.

   Synonyms: appeal, petition, request

6. (archaicCategory:English terms with archaic senses#SOLICIT, transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#SOLICIT) To disturb or trouble; to harass.
7. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#SOLICIT) To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to.

   Synonym: plead

   • 1628, John Ford, The Lover's Melancholy:

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

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOLICIT

     Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
8. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#SOLICIT, rareCategory:English terms with rare senses#SOLICIT, transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#SOLICIT) To disturb; to disquiet.

   Synonym: worry

   • 1611-1615, George Chapman, Iliad, Book XVI

     Hath any ill solicited thine ears?

   • 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 3:

     But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOLICIT

Noun

solicit (plural solicits)Category:English lemmas#SOLICITCategory:English nouns#SOLICITCategory:English countable nouns#SOLICITCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SOLICITCategory:Pages with entries#SOLICITCategory:Pages with 1 entry#SOLICIT

1. (chiefly archaicCategory:English terms with archaic senses#SOLICIT) Solicitation.
   • 2017, Lia Litosseliti, Research Methods in Linguistics, page 19:

     (1) How many male or female students are named (or otherwise identified) in the context of a solicit?
     (2) How many words of a solicit are directed to a particular student?

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOLICIT

Anagrams

• colitis