Main Entry: so·lic·it

Pronunciation: \sə-ˈli-sət\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, to disturb, promote, from Anglo-French solliciter, from Latin sollicitare to disturb, from sollicitus anxious, from sollus whole (from Oscan; akin to Greek holos whole) + citus, past participle of ciēre to move — more at safe, -kinesis

Date: 15th century

transitive verb 1 a : to make petition to : entreat b : to approach with a request or plea <solicited Congress for funding>
2 : to urge (as one's cause) strongly
3 a : to entice or lure especially into evil b : to proposition (someone) especially as or in the character of a prostitute
4 : to try to obtain by usually urgent requests or pleas <solicited donations>intransitive verb 1 : to make solicitation : importune
2 of a prostitute : to offer to have sexual relations with someone for money

synonyms see ask