petition

[ puh-tish-uhn ]

/ pəˈtɪʃ ən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR petition ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR petition ON THESAURUS.COM

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 petitioner

He took a pinch of snuff, he blew his nose with stately deliberation—all in order to keep the petitioner waiting on tenterhooks.

Petticoat Rule |Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
Fouch returned an insulting answer to the effect that the government could no longer be responsible for the petitioner's safety.

The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte |William Milligan Sloane
She still claimed to be a petitioner to the king for the redress of grievances.

The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn |Henry P. Johnston
Even in the half-light the petitioner's face hinted brazenly of cosmetics.

Ben Blair |Will Lillibridge

Outside their walls, no man has power to do more than to propose as a petitioner some lawful change.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXLII. Vol. LV. April, 1844 |Various

British Dictionary definitions for petitioner (1 of 2)

petitioner

/ (pɪˈtɪʃənə) /

noun

a person who presents a petition

mainly British the plaintiff in a divorce suit

British Dictionary definitions for petitioner (2 of 2)

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 petitioner

British Dictionary definitions for petitioner (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for petitioner (2 of 2)

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

Words related to petitioner

Example sentences from the Web for petitioner

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for petitioner (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for petitioner (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Derived forms of petition

Word Origin for petition

British Dictionary definitions for petitioner (1 of 2)