sb. and a. [ad. L. sōl-, sollicitant-, pres. pple. stem of sollicitāre SOLICIT v.]

1

  A.  sb. One who solicits or requests earnestly.

2

1802–12.  Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 603. To … beg his vote and interest in favour of the solicitant or his friend.

3

1821.  New Monthly Mag., II. 598. The sight of an English carriage … drew half a dozen fresh solicitants.

4

1881.  Academy, No. 459. 127. That wider circle to whom he was only known as a solicitant … for contributions to the paper.

5

  B.  adj. That solicits or begs earnestly; making petition or request.

6

1886.  Daily Telegr., 8 Jan. (Cassell). The unemployed labour that is chronically solicitant of a job.

7

1897.  Walsh, Hist. Oxford Movement, iv. (1898), 118. The Bulls of the Popes themselves against solicitant priests.

8