petition

The definition of a petition is a formal written request to a superior by a number of people for a specific purpose.

(noun)

An example of a petition is someone gathering signatures to submit to voting authorities to put a measure on a ballot.

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See petition in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a solemn, earnest supplication or request to a superior or deity or to a person or group in authority; prayer or entreaty
  2. a formal writing or document embodying such a request, addressed to a specific person or group and often signed by a number of petitioners
  3. something that is asked or entreated: to grant a petition
  4. Law a written formal request or plea in which specific court action is asked for: a petition for rehearing

Origin: OFr < L petitio (gen. petitionis) < petere, to seek, rush at, fall: see feather

transitive verb

  1. to address a petition to; ask formally or earnestly
  2. to ask for; solicit

intransitive verb

to make a petition

Related Forms:

See petition in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A solemn supplication or request to a superior authority; an entreaty.
  2. A formal written document requesting a right or benefit from a person or group in authority.
  3. Law
    a. A formal written application requesting a court for a specific judicial action: a petition for appeal.
    b. The judicial action asked for in any such request.
  4. Something requested or entreated.
verb pe·ti·tioned, pe·ti·tion·ing, pe·ti·tions
verb, transitive
  1. To address a petition to.
  2. To ask for by petition; request formally.
verb, intransitive
To make a request, especially formally: petitioned for retrial.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English peticion

Origin: , from Old French petition

Origin: , from Latin petītiō, petītiōn-

Origin: , from petītus

Origin: , past participle of petere, to request; see pet- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • pe·tiˈtion·arˌy (pə-tĭshˈə-nĕrˌē) adjective
  • pe·tiˈtion·er noun

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