Solicit

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /səˈlɪsɪt/

Definitions

1. To ask for or try to obtain something from someone, often persistently or formally
2. To make an earnest request for something or to pursue assistance or information from another individual, often through formal channels or persistent effort
3. To seek to obtain something from someone through persistent asking or formal requests | To engage in the act of requesting or asking for something, often in a determined or formal manner | To earnestly pursue something from another person, typically involving formal requests or continuous inquiry

Etymology: The verb in question traces back to the Latin root "sollicitare," meaning "to disturb, agitate, or incite." This Latin verb itself is derived from "sollicitus," an adjective signifying "anxious" or "troubled." Originally, the notion embedded in this root was one of stirring up or causing agitation, whether mentally or emotionally. Over time, this sense of rousing or inciting laid the groundwork for the word's evolution into English, where it took on the more targeted meaning of earnestly seeking or requesting something. By the late Middle Ages, English had absorbed the term through Old French, where "solliciter" carried the sense of urging or petitioning someone persistently. The first recorded English usages, dating from around the 15th century, reflect this meaning: to make a formal request or to try to obtain something by earnest entreaty. This was often in legal or ecclesiastical contexts, such as soliciting a favor or advocating for a cause. The meaning expanded gradually to include the act of trying to obtain business, donations, or support, often through direct appeals or persistent requests. This sense of active seeking remains prominent today, whether in the context of soliciting funds, advice, or customers. However, the undertone of agitation or disturbance that the Latin root held has largely faded from common usage, replaced by a more neutral or even polite connotation of making a formal or earnest request. Interestingly, the root "sollicitare" connects to other English words like "solicitous," which retains the original sense of anxious or concerned care. While "solicit" as a verb emphasizes the act of requesting or urging, "solicitous" focuses on the attentive or anxious feeling behind such actions. This pairing reveals how different branches of a single Latin root can evolve into related but distinct English words.

Synonyms: request, ask, seek, implore, entreat

Antonyms: refuse, dismiss, ignore, reject, shun