solicit

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   make a solicitation or petition for something desired

   They are too shy to solicit.

2. 2
   verb

   incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination

   They were accused of soliciting their colleagues to destroy the documents.

3. 3
   verb

   approach with an offer of sexual favors

   The stranger was solicited by a prostitute.

4. 4
   verb

   To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.

   to solicit alms, or a favour

5. 5
   verb

   To woo; to court.

   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.

6. 6
   verb

   To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior.

   That fruit […] sollicited her longing eye.

7. 7
   verb

   To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment.

   My girlfriend tried to solicit me for sex, but I was tired.

8. 8
   verb

   To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to.

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

Etymology

From Middle English soliciten, solliciten, from Old French soliciter, solliciter, borrowed from Latin 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”).