solicit

present singular third person solicits · participle present soliciting · participle past solicited · past solicited · alternative obsolete sollicit

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

   to solicit alms, or a favour

   1 more example

   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, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC

   Synonyms: supplicate, thig

2. transitiveTo 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.

   1960 November, David Morgan, “"Piggyback"—U.S. success story”, in Trains Illustrated, page 683

   Synonyms: address, romance

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

   If you want to lose your virginity, you should try to solicit some fine looking women.

   2 more examples

   That fruit […] sollicited her longing eye.

   1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   Sounds and some tangible qualities fail not to solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind.

   , Book II, Chapter 1

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

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

5. To make a petition.

   Synonyms: appeal, petition, request

6. archaictransitiveTo disturb or trouble; to harass.
7. transitiveTo 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.

   1628, John Ford, The Lover's Melancholy

   Synonyms: plead

8. obsoleteraretransitiveTo disturb; to disquiet.

   1611-1615, George Chapman, Iliad, Book XVI Hath any ill solicited thine ears?

   1 more example

   But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.

   1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 3

   Synonyms: worry

plural solicits · alternative obsolete sollicit

1. archaicSolicitation.

   (1) How many male or female students are named (or otherwise identified) in the context of a solicit? (2) How many words of a solicit are directed to a particular student?

   2017, Lia Litosseliti, Research Methods in Linguistics, page 19