Forms: 5– solicit, 6 solycit (solucyt), solysset, 7 solissit (6–7 Sc. solist); 5–8 solicite, 6–7 solycite; 6–8 sollicite (6 -ycite), 7–8 sollicit. [ad. OF. sol-, solliciter (mod.F. solliciter, = Prov. sollicitar, Sp. and Pg. solicitar, It. solli-, sollecitare), or ad. L. sollicitāre (sōl-), f. sollicitus: see prec.]
I. trans. † 1. To disturb, disquiet, trouble; to make anxious, fill with concern. Obs.
a. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. l. 121. If it were so wiþ me, mannys drede shuld not so solicite me, ner þe dartes of wordes shuld not meve me.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., V. (1811), 106. He solycited so the lordes of Burgoyne, that some of them abhorred the crudelitie of that woman.
1611. Chapman, Iliad, XVI. 10/218. Hath any ill, sollicited thine eares, Befalne my Myrmidons?
1637–8. in Willis & Clark, Cambridge (1886), I. 119. They may enjoy all ye ground … in what manner they please; we desire no way to sollicite them.
1681. Dryden, Span. Fryar, III. ii. But anxious Fears sollicit my weak Breast.
1719. Young, Revenge, IV. i. How good in you, my lord, whom nations cares Solicit, and a world in arms obeys!
refl. c. 1685. Great Frost 1683–4, 17. Ye merchants, to Greenland now leave off your sailing, And for your Train Oyl your selves never solicite.
1788. New London Mag., 533. They … consider him as one that … never solicits himself about them.
2. To entreat or petition (a person) for, or to do, something; to urge, importune; to ask earnestly or persistently.
1530. Palsgr., 725/1. I solycite one, I call upon him to remembre the seute I make to him, je solicite.
1548. Geste, Pr. Masse, 116. Yet he is reverenced and sollicited but as resident in heaven.
1612. in Fortescue P. (Camden), 7, note. Hee hath soe confirmed mee in the assurance of your … readie assistance uppon all occasions, that I neede not any more solicite you therein.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1687), 3/2. In this privacy of life he was solicited and sent unto by many Princes, whose invitations … he refused.
1719. in Sir J. Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1886), II. 79. The charge of solliciting the Government for the moneys.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., v. Wks. 1813, V. 445. Henry had been soliciting the pope for some time, in order to obtain a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, his queen.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, ii. (1869), 63. The injured priest, Chruses, solicits all the Achaioi, and most of all the two Atridai. Ibid. There is no sign that he solicited the army.
transf. 1626. Bp. Hall, Contempl., O. T., XXI. i. Lebanon is now anew solicited for cedar trees.
b. Const. to with inf., or with that.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. i. (S.T.S.), I. 129. How Brutus solistit þe pepill to mak þare solemne aithis, neuer to suffir ony kingis regne abone þame.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 302. The cities and townes of Germany are sollicited to accept the Interim.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. xiii. (1674), 16. [He] did much solicite his Majesty that he might be admitted.
1676. Ray, Corr. (1848), 123. I have been lately solicited to reprint my Catalogue of English Plants.
1719. Young, Revenge, I. i. Had I known this before,… I had not then solicited your father To add to my distress.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiv. III. 411. He had been solicited to accept indulgences which scarcely any other heretic could by any solicitation obtain.
† c. spec. To beg (an advocate) to attend to a case. Obs.–1
1536. in Strype, Mem. Cranmer (1694), App. 32. A Proctor must take sufficient instructions of his Clients, and keep every Court-day…; solicite and instruct his Advocates [etc.].
3. To incite or move, to induce or persuade, to some act of lawlessness or insubordination. Freq. const. to (with sb. or inf.).
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Solicito, To solicite mens mindes and intice them with brybes.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 149. This done, he solliciteth to rebellion the Bishops, Nobilitie, and Commons of the Realme.
1600. Holland, Livy, X. xxi. 366. The Vmbrians … were moued to revolt; and the Gaules also sollicited with great summes of mony.
1643. Baker, Chron., Jas. I., 134. With a purpose to solicite forreign Princes against the King.
1683. Brit. Spec., 102. Boadicea … sollicited the Britains … to a Revolt.
1809. Christian, Blackstone’s Comm., IV. 221. One Higgins was indicted … for having incited and solicited a servant to steal his master’s property.
1835. [see SOLICITATION 2 d].
4. To incite, draw on, allure, by some specious representation or argument. (Cf. 5 b.)
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iii. 190. Solicite Henry with her wonderous praise. Bethinke thee on her Vertues [etc.].
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xv. 19. Though I sleepe, Yet is my mood soliciting their soules.
1609. Bible (Douay), Deut. xxiv. 7. If any man be taken soliciting his brother of the children of Israel, and selling him…, he shal be slaine.
[1773. Gray, Corr. w. Nicholls (1843), 153. The said Solicitor (who seems to have solicited the house out of their senses).]
b. To court or beg the favor of (a woman), esp. with immoral intention.
1591. Shaks., Two Gentl., V. iv. 40. Therefore be gone, sollicit me no more. Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, II. i. 70. Daughter, remember what I told you, if the Prince doe solicit you in that kinde, you know your answere.
1614. Rich, Honestie of Age (1844), 48. Perceiving … the other [Julia] againe to be solicited with witlesse and wanton Roysters.
1632. High Commiss. Cases (Camden), 310. He sollicited Ellen Coalman the wife of Joseph Coleman to lye with her.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 402, ¶ 2. That my Mother, the most mercenary of all Women, is gained by this false Friend of my Husband to sollicit me for him.
c. To make immoral attempts upon.
1645. Ordin. concerning Suspention fr. Lord’s Supper, 6. Any Person … that shall solicite the chastity of any Person for himselfe or any other.
1881. Times, 2 May, 6/5. It appeared that … he had attempted to take familiarities with their maid-servant and solicited her chastity.
d. Of women: To accost and importune (men) for immoral purposes.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 201, ¶ 1. There are those [women] who betray the Innocent of their own Sex, and sollicit the Lewd of ours.
1869. E. A. Parkes, Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3), 498. Means could easily be adopted to prevent soldiers being solicited by women.
1887. Spectator, 9 July, 919/2. She was arrested by a constable, accused of soliciting gentlemen.
5. Of things: a. To affect (a person or thing) by some form of physical influence or attraction. Now rare.
(a) 1601. Holland, Pliny, XXXI. vii. Not onely we men are sollicited and moved by salt more than by any thing else to our meat.
1668. Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. ii. 26. That the Excrements may be the longer detained,… and that we may not every foot be sollicited to go to stool.
(b) 1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. v. (1686), 63. Glass commonly excoriates the parts through which it passeth and solicits them unto a continual expulsion.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad, I. 567. Then gently sleep sollicited each eye.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. i. (1695), 43. Sounds and some tangible Qualities fail not to sollicite their proper Senses, and force an entrance to the Mind.
1829. Chapters Phys. Sci., 17. Hardness is classed among the properties relative to certain forces soliciting or impelling bodies.
1852. H. Rogers, Ecl. Faith (1853), 285. All effects are the result of properties or susceptibilities in one thing, solicited by external contact with those of others.
b. To tempt, entice, allure; to attract or draw by enticement, etc. (Cf. 4.)
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., x. (1687), 52. Did they not perpetually ingross your thoughts, and solicite your desires, and exclude all things else besides themselves from having any place in your heart?
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 743. That Fruit, which with desire … Sollicited her longing eye.
1759. Johnson, Idler, No. 89, ¶ 10. Innumerable delights sollicit our inclinations.
1780. Cowper, Progr. Err., 39. The world around solicits his desire.
1817. Chalmers, Astron. Disc., ii. (1852), 49. He might have met with much to solicit his fancy, and tempt him to some devious speculation.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, x. (1869), 403. His early youth is not solicited into vice by finding sensual excess in vogue.
† 6. To endeavor to draw out (a dart, etc.) by the use of gentle force. Obs.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, XII. 590. The fam’d physician … hastens to the wound. With gentle touches he performs his part, This way and that, soliciting the dart.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XIII. 750. But good Agenor gently from the wound The spear sollicits.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 115. With gentle force soliciting the darts, He drew them forth.
7. Med. To seek to draw, to induce or bring on, esp. by gentle means.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, in Aliments, etc. 376. One ought to solicit the Humours towards that Part.
1776. T. Percival, Ess., III. 266. The same remedies are also employed to solicit the gout to the extremities.
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 151. He supposed it owing to an inflammatory tendency conveyed, through the mesenteric arteries to the intestines; there ‘soliciting excretions.’
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), I. 201. Such aperients … which act … by soliciting the peristaltic motion of the bowels. Ibid., IV. 380. But the action of the bowels must only be solicited, and by no means violently excited.
II. † 8. To conduct, manage, or attend to (business, affairs, etc.); to push forward or prosecute. Obs.
1429. [see SOLICITING vbl. sb.].
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 61 b. They cam where as argos the maister patrone solicited the werk … of the ship.
1518. Sel. Pl. Star Chamb. (Selden), II. 131. Wyllyam … went to … the Checker … to pay certeyn money and to solysset other materes that he had thear to doo.
1577. Hanmer, Eccl. Hist., Eusebius, IX. ii. The author of all which mischiefe was Theotecnus, who solicited the cause, and egged them of Antioch forwards.
1627. Lisander & Cal., III. 47. She went vnto Paris,… where she imployed a moneth more, aswell in soliciting her husbands affaires.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. § 93. A Committee was come from the Parliament in Ireland, to sollicite Matters concerning that Kingdom.
1717. Steele, Epist. Corr. (1787), I. 186. I am going to Hampton-court, where the King now is, to solicit some matters relating to our commission.
1789. Charlotte Smith, Ethelinde (1814), III. 75. To be employed in soliciting and managing the affairs of his son.
b. To conduct (a lawsuit, etc.) as a solicitor; to transact or negotiate in the capacity of a law-agent. ? Obs.
1606. Act 3 Jas. I., c. vii. That none be suffered to Solicite any Cause or Causes in any of the Courts … but only … men of sufficient and honest disposition.
1671. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., IX. § 55. One Brabant, an Atturney at Law, (who had heretofore sollicited the great Suit against Sr Richard in the Star-Chamber).
1761. Ann. Reg., II. 37. A law-suit,… which he solicited so effectually that it was concluded greatly to the … advantage of the duke.
1839. Standard, 3 June, 4/3. Robert Mead, the attorney-at-law who solicited the suits.
† c. To stir up, instigate (rebellion, etc.). Obs.–1
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 262. Nay it is now plaine, that they had then plotted in their harts a shamefull rebellion, which they did sollicite.
† 9. a. To urge or plead (one’s suit, cause, etc.).
a. 1562. G. Cavendish, Wolsey (1893), 188. Then began bothe noble men and other … to make earnest sewte to Mayster Cromwell for to solicite ther causes to my lord, to gett of hyme his confirmacions.
1577. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. III. 75. Therfore as yow tender his healthe, I pray yow sollicite the matter to my Lord Treasourer.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. i. 120. But would you vndertake another suite I had rather heare you to solicit that, Then Musicke from the spheares.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. (1686), I. xxxi. 447. God and Nature therefore within us do solicite the poor-man’s case.
1769. Goldsm., Hist. Rome (1786), I. 424. It was in vain that this great man [Cicero] went up and down the city, soliciting his cause in the habit of a suppliant.
† b. To urge or press (a matter). Obs.
c. 1610. Keymor, Obs. Dutch Fishing (1664), 2. Since I sollicited this to have 200. Busses built for England, the Hollanders have made 800. new Busses more.
a. 1648. Ld. Herbert, Hen. VIII. (1683), 424. He seemed to receive some satisfaction,… and therefore forbore a while to solicite this point.
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 116. Haggai earnestly exhorts the People of God, to the building of the Temple. Ibid. Zechariah … also solicited the re-building of the Temple.
† c. To seek or follow diligently. Obs.–1
1658. R. Franck, North. Mem. (1821), 29–30. All that sollicit thy paths of peace, shall be found in their duty as by wisdom directed.
10. To request, petition, or sue for (some thing, favor, etc.); to desire or seek by petition.
1595. Daniel, Civil Wars, I. lxxxvi. Who faile not to aduise the Duke with speed, Solliciting to what he soone agreed.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 54. Who make so many journeys to sollicit their licence.
1676. Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, V. i. Free. Give you a Ship! why, you will not solicit it. Man. If I have not solicited it by my services, I know no other way.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 27 Oct. 1675. To … solicite supplies from the Lord Treasurer.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 157, ¶ 5. My acquaintance was solicited by innumerable invitations.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, I. i. 24. Yet, even if she were not averse to his suit, how could he solicit her hand, and hope it would be given him, when he should declare that this must be in secret?
1844. Thirlwall, Greece, VIII. 325. Nabis … sent Pythagoras to solicit an interview with Flamininus.
1855. Brewster, Newton, II. xix. 214. The object … seems to have been to solicit the favour of the Mogul to the English Company.
b. To seek after; to try to find, obtain or acquire.
1717. Pope, Eloisa to Abelard, 186. I … Repent old pleasures, and solicit new.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 149, ¶ 11. They never suffer her to appear with them in any place where they solicit notice.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 635. There we … Solicit pleasure, hopeless of success.
11. Of things: To call or ask for, to demand (action, attention, etc.).
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., IV. iv. 127. Neuer hath it left my bloody hart, Soliciting remembrance of my vow.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 508. After our long perambulation of the Asian Continent, the sea inuironing doch sollicite our next endeuours.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., III. 191. All which incomparable Inventions do not only solicite, but … should inflame our endevours to attempt even Impossibilities.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, V. vii. II. 613. The formation of a new government solicited his attention. Ibid., ix. 694. The affairs and government of India solicited the utmost exertions of their abilities.
III. intr. 12. To make request or petition; to beg or entreat.
1509. in Mem. Hen. VII. (Rolls), 432. Notwythstandeyng that I … have solucytyd unto the kynge and unto hys secretary Almasan … that the sayd ambassatur myȝghte be namyd.
1529. Lyndesay, Compl., 53. Had I solistit,… My rewarde had nocht bene to craif.
1608. Shaks., Per., II. v. 69. Resolve your angry father, if my tongue Did e’er solicit.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 12. They could not then expect that the French should sollicite in their behalf as they had done before.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. ix. 395. Whilst they were thus solliciting.
1796. Eliza Hamilton, Lett. Hindoo Rajah (1811), I. 247. Too modest to solicit, and too proud to bear the harshness of repulse.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. II. v. Now too behold … American Plenipotentiaries, here in person soliciting.
b. Const. for.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., IV. i. All the Saintes doe sit soliciting For vengeance.
1604. Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 28. If you bethinke your selfe of … Grace, Solicite for it straight.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 9 July 1665. I went to Hampton Court … to solicite for mony.
1769. Goldsm., Hist. Rome (1786), I. 338. Metellus … was obliged to solicit at Rome for a continuation of his command.
1802. Marian Moore, Lascelles, II. 49. It was Lascelles’ excessive delicacy … which made him not solicit for the purse from Serena.
1808. Eleanor Sleath, Bristol Heiress, III. 210. She received several messages from young Benson, soliciting for an interview.
c. Const. to with inf.
1654–66. Earl Orrery, Parthenissa (1676), 794. I solicite to be the miserablest of men, to preserve you from being the unjustest.
1710. Swift, Lett. (1767), III. 65. I was soliciting this day, to present the bishop of Clogher Vice-Chancellor.
1775. S. J. Pratt, Liberal Opin., lvii. (1783), II. 174. I sat by his bed-side, and gently sollicited to learn the cause of this strange disaster.
c. 1800. R. Cumberland, John De Lancaster (1809), III. 85. Devereux himself solicits to go with me.
1832. Southey, Hist. Penins. War, III. 98. The accounts … represented Ferdinand as still soliciting to be adopted by marriage into the family of the tyrant who had betrayed him.
13. To act or practise as a solicitor.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, 83. His mother may haue su’d in forma pauperis, but he neuer sollicited in form of papers in the Arches in his life.
1681. Trial S. Colledge, 5. No body can solicit for any one that is under an Accusation of High-Treason, unless he be assigned so to do by the Court.
1714. French Bk. Rates, 13. We have appointed a Person to receive all their Petitions, and solicite for them at our Expence.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., i. Wks. 1761, III. 20. We are at a great distance from the King’s Court, and have no body there to solicit for us.
† 14. To petition against, to make intercession for, a person or thing. Obs.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Macc. x. 61. There assembled agaynst him pestilent men of Israel, wicked men soliciting against him.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 12. 463. Though many things solicite for these lusts,… yet a Christian man must still stand out in the deniall of them.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. To Rdr. Some Authors (I am sorry it may be said so) seem to solicit for Vice.
1741. C. Middleton, Cicero, II. XI. 453. For what your mother and sister are now solliciting against, in favor of the children.
