SOLICITATION

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does solicitation mean? 

• SOLICITATION (noun)
  The noun SOLICITATION has 3 senses:

1. an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status

2. request for a sum of money

3. the act of enticing a person to do something wrong (as an offer of sex in return for money)

  Familiarity information: SOLICITATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SOLICITATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An entreaty addressed to someone of superior status

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

a solicitation to the king for relief

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

appeal; entreaty; prayer (earnest or urgent request)

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

beggary; begging; mendicancy (a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person))

touch (the act of soliciting money (as a gift or loan))

importunity; urgency; urging (insistent solicitation and entreaty)

Derivation:

solicit (make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Request for a sum of money

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

appeal; collection; ingathering; solicitation

Context example:

an appeal to raise money for starving children

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

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

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

whip-round ((British) solicitation of money usually for a benevolent purpose)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of enticing a person to do something wrong (as an offer of sex in return for money)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

allurement; solicitation

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

enticement; temptation (the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire)

Derivation:

solicit (approach with an offer of sexual favors)

 Context examples 

Her visits there, beginning by chance, were continued by solicitation.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

As a friend of mine, of my family, he may, perhaps—indeed I know he HAS, still greater pleasure in bestowing it; but, upon my word, you owe nothing to my solicitation.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Members and Chairs will be selected on an "as needed" basis in response to specific applications, proposals or proposed solicitations to be reviewed.

(NCI Special Emphasis Panel, NCI Thesaurus)

It was not difficult for me, on Peggotty's solicitation, to resolve to stay where I was, until after the remains of the poor carrier should have made their last journey to Blunderstone.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

At her solicitation I let her take the watch till midnight,—it was then nine o’clock, but I wrapped her in blankets and put an oilskin about her before I lay down.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He ordered his coach to wait at a distance, and desired I would give him an hours audience; which I readily consented to, on account of his quality and personal merits, as well as of the many good offices he had done me during my solicitations at court.

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

His anxiety for her comfort—his continual solicitations that she would eat, and his often-expressed fears of her seeing nothing to her taste—though never in her life before had she beheld half such variety on a breakfast-table—made it impossible for her to forget for a moment that she was a visitor.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered the house he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waived for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

He wanted to animate her curiosity again as to how and where he could have heard her formerly praised; wanted very much to be gratified by more solicitation; but the charm was broken: he found that the heat and animation of a public room was necessary to kindle his modest cousin's vanity; he found, at least, that it was not to be done now, by any of those attempts which he could hazard among the too-commanding claims of the others.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Not merely when a state of warfare with one young lady might be supposed to recommend the other, but from the very first; and she was not satisfied with expressing a natural and reasonable admiration—but without solicitation, or plea, or privilege, she must be wanting to assist and befriend her.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)