释义 |
pe·ti·tion I. \pə̇ˈtishən\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English peticioun, from Middle French petition, from Latin petition-, petitio, from petitus (past participle of petere to go to or toward, seek, request) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at feather 1. a. : an earnest request : entreaty, supplication < listens with a vinegar aspect to your petition for shelter — C.E.Montague > b. (1) : a solemn prayer to God < our petition in the litany against sudden death — John Ruskin > (2) : a single clause in such a prayer 2. a. : a formal written request addressed to an official person or organized body: (1) : a bill in the form of a request by which Parliament formerly presented measures for the king's granting (2) : a formal written request addressed to a sovereign or political superior for a particular grace or right (3) : a formal written request addressed to a magistrate or court praying for preliminary, incidental, or final specific relief and setting forth the facts or reasons therefor (4) : a formal statement of a cause of action that is addressed to a court or magistrate and is based on a statute or on an extraordinary remedy for which common-law declarations cannot be invoked or is founded on equity, probate, or ecclesiastical jurisdiction (5) civil law : complaint b. : a document embodying a formal written request 3. : the act or action of formally asking or humbly requesting < an ancient right guaranteed by the early state constitutions … is that of petition — Harvey Walker > 4. : something asked or requested < I make thee promise, … thou receivest thy full petition — Shakespeare > Synonyms: see prayer II. verb (petitioned ; petitioned ; petitioning \-sh(ə)niŋ\ ; petitions) transitive verb 1. : to make a request to : entreat; especially : to make a formal written request to < the right of the people … to petition the government for a redress of grievances — U.S. Constitution > 2. : to make a request for : solicit < all that I hope, petition, or expect — George Crabbe †1832 > intransitive verb : to make a request; especially : to make a formal written request < she neither petitioned for her right nor claimed it — George Meredith > |