English Explanatory Dictionary

petition

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A formal written request made by an individual or a group of people to a sovereign or political authority, often containing many signatures, soliciting some grace, right, mercy, or the redress of some wrong or grievance.
  2. A formal written application made to a magistrate or court for an order or a suit for divorce.
  3. A prayer or supplication, especially of which is formal or humble and made to a deity, a sovereign, or an authority.
verb
  1. To make a petition to (a sovereign or political authority).

Pronunciation

/pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-petition.wav

Word forms

petition petitions petitioning petitioned

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”).

Derived words

counterpetition e-petition petitionable petitional petitionary petitionee petitioner petitionist petition of right prepetition repetition
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