Definition of "suppliant"

to bow and sue for grace with suppliant knee

1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,

Some plaques formed part of a mosaic that covered human life with its varied scenes of peace and war. Here we have warriors, the Cretan erect, and his darker-skinned enemy prostrate and suppliant.

1907, Ronald M. Burrows, The Discoveries In Crete, page 20

your levy Must be suppliant

1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene vii]

In reuerence therefore of the hopes vvhich the Grecians haue repoſed in you, and of the preſence of Iupiter Olympius, in vvhoſe Temple here, vve are in a manner ſuppliants to you, receiue the Mitylenians into league, and ayde vs.

1629, Thycydides, “The First Booke”, in Thomas Hobbes, transl., Eight Bookes of the Peloponnesian Warre […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Richard Mynne […], published 1634, page 52

I touch your beard as a suppliant, embrace your knees, imploring you to have pity on my wretchedness.

1963, Philip Vellacott, transl., Medea, Penguin Classics, translation of original by Euripides, page 39