Petition Definition
pə-tĭshən
petitioned, petitioning, petitions
noun
petitions
A solemn, earnest supplication or request to a superior or deity or to a person or group in authority; prayer or entreaty.
Webster's New World
A formal writing or document embodying such a request, addressed to a specific person or group and often signed by a number of petitioners.
Webster's New World
A written formal request or plea in which specific court action is asked for.
A petition for rehearing.
Webster's New World
Something that is asked or entreated.
To grant a petition.
Webster's New World
A pleading initiating a legal case in some civil courts.
A bankruptcy petition.
American Heritage
verb
petitioned, petitioning, petitions
To make a petition.
Webster's New World
To address a petition to; ask formally or earnestly.
Webster's New World
To ask for; solicit.
Webster's New World
To make a request, especially formally.
Petitioned for retrial.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Petition
Noun
Singular:
petitionPlural:
petitionsOrigin of Petition
-
Middle English peticion from Old French petition from Latin petītiō petītiōn- from petītus past participle of petere to request pet- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
Middle English, from Old French peticiun, from stem of Latin petitio (“a request, solicitation"), from petere (“to require, seek, go forward")
From Wiktionary
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