Definition of "solicit"

solicit

/səˈlɪsɪt/

verb
third-person singular simple present solicits, present participle soliciting, simple past and past participle solicited
1. (transitive) To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.
  Quotations
  I view my crime, but kindle at the view, / Repent old pleasures, and solicit new.Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?
  1717, Alexander Pope, “Eloisa to Abelard”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717
2. (transitive) To woo; to court.
  Quotations
  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.
  1960 November, David Morgan, “"Piggyback"—U.S. success story”, in Trains Illustrated, page 683
3. (transitive) To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior.
  Quotations
  That fruit […] sollicited her longing eye.
  1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,
  Sounds and some tangible qualities fail not to solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind.
  1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […]
4. (transitive) To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment.
5. To make a petition.
6. (archaic, transitive) To disturb or trouble; to harass.
7. (transitive) To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to.
  Quotations
  Should / My brother henceforth study to forget / The vow that he hath made thee, I would ever / Solicit thy deserts.
  1628, John Ford, The Lover's Melancholy
8. (obsolete, rare, transitive) To disturb; to disquiet.
  Quotations
  Hath any ill solicited thine ears?
  1611-1615, George Chapman, Iliad, Book XVI
  But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.
  1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], Act I, page 3
noun
1. (archaic) solicitation

Definition of "solicit"

solicit

verb

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noun