Library / English Dictionary

PETITION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority

Synonyms:

petition; postulation; request

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("petition" is a kind of...):

content; message; subject matter; substance (what a communication that is about something is about)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "petition"):

application (a verbal or written request for assistance or employment or admission to a school)

appeal; collection; ingathering; solicitation (request for a sum of money)

demand (an urgent or peremptory request)

Derivation:

petition (write a petition for something to somebody; request formally and in writing)

petitionary (of the nature of or expressing a petition)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reverent petition to a deity

Synonyms:

orison; petition; prayer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("petition" is a kind of...):

asking; request (the verbal act of requesting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "petition"):

prayer wheel (a cylinder with prayers written on it; each revolution counts as uttering the prayers; used especially by Buddhists in Tibet)

benediction; blessing (a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection)

collect (a short prayer generally preceding the lesson in the Church of Rome or the Church of England)

commination (prayers proclaiming God's anger against sinners; read in the Church of England on Ash Wednesday)

deprecation (a prayer to avert or remove some evil or disaster)

blessing; grace; thanksgiving (a short prayer of thanks before a meal)

intercession (a prayer to God on behalf of another person)

invocation; supplication (a prayer asking God's help as part of a religious service)

requiescat (a prayer for the repose of the soul of a dead person)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Write a petition for something to somebody; request formally and in writing

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "petition" is one way to...):

ask for; bespeak; call for; quest; request (express the need or desire for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "petition"):

supplicate (make a humble, earnest petition)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They petition to move

Derivation:

petition (a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority)

petitioner (someone who petitions a court for redress of a grievance or recovery of a right)

Credits

 Context examples: 

On these packthreads the people strung their petitions, which mounted up directly, like the scraps of paper fastened by school boys at the end of the string that holds their kite.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

In due time, Mr. Micawber's petition was ripe for hearing; and that gentleman was ordered to be discharged under the Act, to my great joy.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I abandoned it and framed a humbler supplication; for change, stimulus: that petition, too, seemed swept off into vague space: "Then," I cried, half desperate, "grant me at least a new servitude!"

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

When a great office is vacant, either by death or disgrace (which often happens,) five or six of those candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court with a dance on the rope; and whoever jumps the highest, without falling, succeeds in the office.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

But I had a petition on my mind which concerned me so nearly, that I couldn't help saying, though I wondered at my own courage: If you please, sir— Mr. Creakle whispered, “Hah! What's this?” and bent his eyes upon me, as if he would have burnt me up with them.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Here the gentlemen interposed with earnest petitions to be further enlightened on these two last-named points; but they got only blushes, ejaculations, tremors, and titters, in return for their importunity.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Her majesty agreed to my petition, and easily got the farmer’s consent, who was glad enough to have his daughter preferred at court, and the poor girl herself was not able to hide her joy.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I recollect, as the wind and water began to sound fainter in my ears, putting a short clause into my prayers, petitioning that I might grow up to marry little Em'ly, and so dropping lovingly asleep.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Adele now petitioned to go down; but I took her on my knee, and gave her to understand that she must not on any account think of venturing in sight of the ladies, either now or at any other time, unless expressly sent for: that Mr. Rochester would be very angry, &c.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

To this I added another petition, that for the sake of my patron the king of Luggnagg, his majesty would condescend to excuse my performing the ceremony imposed on my countrymen, of trampling upon the crucifix: because I had been thrown into his kingdom by my misfortunes, without any intention of trading.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)