Synonyms for petition
- application
- prayer
- request
- suit
- address
- entreaty
- imprecation
- invocation
- memorial
- solicitation
- supplication
- imploration
- round robin
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR PETITION
And in the meantime a trireme was despatched in all haste to carry their petition to Sparta.
What do we acknowledge and for what do we pray in this petition?
This petition does not imply, therefore, that we are to make God's name holy.
The praying of this petition presupposes a penitent state of heart.
If we are not truly penitent, this petition is a mockery on our lips.
Her son, who could write a very legible hand, wrote the petition.
Her innocence was apparent to the priest, her petition heard in heaven.
Let me this once be heard with patience, and have my petition granted.
The votaries of the saint will get up a petition to have his body moved.
I do not ask you to petition or to do any other act in favor of the Irish.
WORD ORIGIN
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.