n. 1. A solemn supplication or request, especially to a superior authority; an entreaty. 2. A formal written document requesting a right or benefit from a person or group in authority. 3. Law a. A formal written application seeking a court's intervention and action on a matter: a petition for review of a previous court's decision. b. A pleading initiating a legal case in some civil courts: a bankruptcy petition. 4. Something requested or entreated: granted our petition. v. pe·ti·tioned, pe·ti·tion·ing, pe·ti·tions v.tr. 1. To address a petition to: petitioned the king for a pardon. 2. To ask for by petition; request formally: petitioned that the sentence be reduced. v.intr. To make a request, especially formally: petitioned for retrial. [Middle English peticion, from Old French petition, from Latin petītiō, petītiōn-, from petītus, past participle of petere, to request; see pet- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] pe·tition·ar′y (pə-tĭshə-nĕr′ē) adj. pe·tition·er n. |
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