petition

C1 Topic:People & Society

US /pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ See IPA manual

Freq #7879

Meanings

1

noun
A formal written request, usually signed by many people, asking an authority to do something.

Thousands signed the petition to save the local hospital.
2

verb
To make a formal request to an authority.

The villagers petitioned the council to repair the road.
3

noun
(law) A formal application made to a court, such as one for divorce.

She filed a petition for divorce last month.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a formal written request,... request

Word family

Forms petitionedpetitioningpetitions

Derived forms counterpetitione-petitionpetitionablepetitionalpetitionarypetitioneepetitionerpetitionistprepetitionrepetition

Simplified etymology

Petition entered English in the Middle English period and ultimately derives from Latin petere, “aim at” or “seek.” It denoted an act of seeking for something.

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French peticiun, from stem of Latin petitio, petitionem (“a request, solicitation”), from petere (“to require, seek, go forward”).

*peth₂- Proto-Indo-European peticiun Old French petitio Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# petition

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /pəˈtɪʃ.ən/
**Frequency rank:** 7879

## Meanings
1. A formal written request, usually signed by many people, asking an authority to do something.
2. To make a formal request to an authority.
3. (law) A formal application made to a court, such as one for divorce.

## Examples
- Thousands signed the petition to save the local hospital.
- The villagers petitioned the council to repair the road.
- She filed a petition for divorce last month.

## Derived Forms
- counterpetition
- e-petition
- petitionable
- petitional
- petitionary
- petitionee
- petitioner
- petitionist
- prepetition
- repetition

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *peth₂-
- Root: peticiun
- Root: petitio

## Etymology
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French peticiun, from stem of Latin petitio, petitionem (“a request, solicitation”), from petere (“to require, seek, go forward”).

## AI Etymology
Petition comes from Middle English, borrowed from Old French peticiun, from stem of Latin petitio, petitionem (“a request, solicitation”), from petere (“to require, seek, go forward”). The historical chain includes *peth₂- (Proto-Indo-European), peticiun (Old French), and petitio (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as counterpetition, e-petition, petitionable, and petitional. In present use it covers a formal written request, usually signed by many people, asking an authority to do something, to make a formal request to an authority, and (law) A formal application made to a court, such as one for divorce.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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