petitions
|pe-ti-tion|
🇺🇸
/pəˈtɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/pəˈtɪʃ(ə)n/
(petition)
formal request
Etymology
'petition' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'petitio,' where 'petere' meant 'to seek' or 'to ask'.
'petition' changed from Medieval Latin 'petitionem' and Old French 'peticion' and eventually became the modern English word 'petition' through Middle English.
Initially, it meant 'a seeking or request', but over time it evolved into its current primary sense of 'a formal written request' (and also the act of making such a request).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a formal written request, often signed by many people, appealing to an authority or organization to take action or change a policy.
The residents submitted petitions to the city council asking for traffic calming measures.
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Noun 2
the act of making a request or seeking a favor from someone in authority (often in legal or formal contexts).
After the closure was announced, petitions for reconsideration began to circulate.
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Verb 1
(third-person singular) Formally and respectfully request or appeal to an authority for something (e.g., to change a decision or grant relief).
She petitions the board for an extension on the deadline.
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Last updated: 2025/10/21 22:09