petition

[ puh-tish-uhn ]

/ pəˈtɪʃ ən /

noun

a formally drawn request, often bearing the names of a number of those making the request, that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit: a petition for clemency; a petition for the repeal of an unfair law.

a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer: a petition for aid; a petition to God for courage and strength.

something that is sought by request or entreaty: to receive one's full petition.

Law. an application for a court order or for some judicial action.

verb (used with object)

to beg for or request (something).

to address a formal petition to (a sovereign, a legislative body, etc.): He received everything for which he had petitioned the king.

to ask by petition for (something).

verb (used without object)

to present a petition.

to address or present a formal petition.

to request or solicit, as by a petition: to petition for redress of grievances.

Origin of petition

1300–50; Middle English peticioun (< Middle French peticion) < Latin petītiōn- (stem of petītiō) a seeking out, equivalent to petīt(us) (past participle of petere to seek) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR petition

1 suit.

2 entreaty, solicitation, appeal.

9 solicit, sue.

synonym study for petition

9. See appeal.

OTHER WORDS FROM petition

pe·ti·tion·a·ble, adjective pe·ti·tion·er, pe·ti·tion·ist, noun coun·ter·pe·ti·tion, noun, verb pre·pe·ti·tion, noun, verb (used with object)

re-pe·ti·tion, verb (used with object) un·pe·ti·tioned, adjective

Words nearby petition

petite, petite bourgeoise, petite bourgeoisie, petite marmite, petitio principii, petition, petitionary, petitioner, petitor, petits pois, petn

Example sentences from the Web for counter-petition

It concerns the presentation of a counter-petition, or rather, a protest.

The Reign of Greed |Jose Rizal
The Baptists accordingly circulated a counter-petition, which was signed by ten thousand persons, chiefly freeholders.

History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia |Charles Campbell
Only he had out-witted himself in the drawing up of this counter-petition.

Boer Politics |Yves Guyot
Stanhope put in a counter-petition to the effect that Witherings never had any right to the position which Warwick now claimed.

The History of the British Post Office |Joseph Clarence Hemmeon

A counter-petition was presented; and after full consideration the Board refused the application.

The Life of Florence Nightingale vol. 2 of 2 |Edward Tyas Cook

British Dictionary definitions for counter-petition

petition

/ (pɪˈtɪʃən) /

noun

a written document signed by a large number of people demanding some form of action from a government or other authority

any formal request to a higher authority or deity; entreaty

law a formal application in writing made to a court asking for some specific judicial action a petition for divorce

the action of petitioning

verb

(tr) to address or present a petition to (a person in authority, government, etc) to petition Parliament

(intr foll by for) to seek by petition to petition for a change in the law

Derived forms of petition

petitionary, adjective

Word Origin for petition

C14: from Latin petītiō, from petere to seek

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

petition

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of petition

SYNONYMS FOR petition

synonym study for petition

OTHER WORDS FROM petition

Words nearby petition

Example sentences from the Web for counter-petition

British Dictionary definitions for counter-petition

noun

verb

Derived forms of petition

Word Origin for petition

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

petition

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of petition

SYNONYMS FOR petition

synonym study for petition

OTHER WORDS FROM petition

Words nearby petition

Example sentences from the Web for counter-petition

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for counter-petition

noun

verb

Derived forms of petition

Word Origin for petition

British Dictionary definitions for counter-petition