petition

[puh-tish-uh n] /pəˈtɪʃ ən/

noun

a formally drawn request, often bearing the names of a number of those making the request, that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit:

a petition for clemency; a petition for the repeal of an unfair law.

a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer:

a petition for aid; a petition to God for courage and strength.

something that is sought by request or entreaty:

to receive one's full petition.

Law. an application for a court order or for some judicial action.

verb (used with object)

to beg for or request (something).

to address a formal petition to (a sovereign, a legislative body, etc.):

He received everything for which he had petitioned the king.

to ask by petition for (something).

verb (used without object)

to present a petition.

to address or present a formal petition.

10.

to request or solicit, as by a petition:

to petition for redress of grievances.

Origin

1300-50; Middle English peticioun (< Middle French peticion) < Latin petītiōn- (stem of petītiō) a seeking out, equivalent to petīt(us) (past participle of petere to seek) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

petitionable, adjective

petitioner, petitionist, noun

counterpetition, noun, verb

prepetition, noun, verb (used with object)

re-petition, verb (used with object)

unpetitioned, adjective

Synonyms

1. suit. 2. entreaty, solicitation, appeal. 9. solicit, sue. See appeal.

Examples from the web for petition

He drafted a petition, expressing his righteous anger.
Everyone unite and petition to give them more time to dig at the site.
Be ready with your petition, and present it.
He said there is a mandatory 60-day waiting period after a divorce petition is filed until a decree can be issued.
Nearly all the townspeople have signed a petition to get rid of the dog kennel run by Helen's husband.
Some astronomers said they would refuse to use it and organized a protest petition.
This is followed by a prayer of quiet petition and protection.
More than 50000 of them signed an online petition protesting the program.
Please petition your local and federal government to provide the infrastructure necessary for the conversion.
The rules also require that the candidate sign the petition.

British Dictionary definitions for petition

petition

/pɪˈtɪʃən/

noun

a written document signed by a large number of people demanding some form of action from a government or other authority

any formal request to a higher authority or deity; entreaty

(law) a formal application in writing made to a court asking for some specific judicial action: a petition for divorce

the action of petitioning

verb

(transitive) to address or present a petition to (a person in authority, government, etc): to petition Parliament

(intransitive) foll by for. to seek by petition: to petition for a change in the law

Derived Forms

petitionary, adjective

Word Origin

C14: from Latin petītiō, from petere to seek

Word Origin and History for petition

early 14c., "a supplication or prayer, especially to a deity," from Old French peticion "request, petition" (12c., Modern French pétition) and directly from Latin petitionem (nominative petitio) "a blow, thrust, attack, aim; a seeking, searching," in law "a claim, suit," noun of action from past participle stem of petere "to make for, go to; attack, assail; seek, strive after; ask for, beg, beseech, request; fetch; derive; demand, require," from PIE root *pet-, also *pete- "to rush; to fly" (cf. Sanskrit pattram "wing, feather, leaf," patara- "flying, fleeting;" Hittite pittar "wing;" Greek piptein "to fall," potamos "rushing water," pteryx "wing;" Old English feðer "feather;" Latin penna "feather, wing;" Old Church Slavonic pero "feather;" Old Welsh eterin "bird"). Meaning "formal written request to a superior (earthly)" is attested from early 15c.

c.1600, from petition (n.). Related: Petitioned; petitioning.