Obs. Forms: α. 5 solyster, 6 solester; Sc. 6 sol(l)istar. β. 5 soluciter, 6 sollycyter, solyciter, 6–7 solliciter (6 Sc. -ar), 7– soliciter. [f. SOLICIT v. + -ER1.]
1. One who conducts or manages affairs on behalf of another; spec. = SOLICITOR 3.
α. 1482. Cely Papers (Camden), 118. The bylles of xx s of the sarpler schall be sent ynto Inglond to the solyster schorttly.
1563. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 239. For furnessing of procuratouris, sollistaris, and utheris doers for the saidis merchandis.
1585. Exchequer Rolls Scot., XXI. 613. The said James, Lord of Doun, comperand be George Mak, his solistar.
β. 1464. Rolls of Parlt., V. 530/1. Provided alwey, that this Acte extend not nor be prejudiciall to Richard Fowler, of or for the Office of oure Soluciter.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. IV., 7 b. He by his priuie frendes and soliciters, caused to be enacted [etc.].
1576. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 415. Cowncellors, soliciters, and atturneies.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle (1871), 46. A daw To a solliciter is now become Iustice of peace & coram.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 39 (1810), 40. Baldwin Mallet, soliciter unto King Henry the eighth.
2. One who takes charge of, or action in, some affair; a promoter or forwarder.
a. 1530. Wolsey, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., 1st Ser. II. 5. To be a sollycyter and setter forth of such thyngs as do and shall conserve my said ende.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, V. xiii. (S.T.S.), II. 191. The small pepill tuke purpoiss to continew þe same tribunys þat war solistaris of þare lawis.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, V. 406. You who in the name of the rest were Solliciters in this business.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 72. As if these were the most serious and earnest soliciters of Religion that one can hope to meet withall.
3. A petitioner; = SOLICITOR 4.
α. 1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lvii. Quod Dumbar aganis the solistaris in court.
1536. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 498. [We] most umblye desyre youre grase to be owre solester to owre prynse.
1787. A. Hume, Epist. Moncreiff, 197. Ȝit all sollistars cannot iustice haue.
β. 1537. State Papers Hen. VIII., XII. No. 883. Trustyng your mastershyppe wylbe a solyciter to hym for us.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., II. 29. In that behalfe Bold of your worthinesse, we single you, As our best mouing faire soliciter.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., I. 1023. Thou wert Soliciter For King Manasses that Idolater.
1668. Lond. Gaz., No. 254/2. That the City of Vienna is much disgusted with the … Liberty given to the Jews, and are earnest solliciters for their Banishment.
b. fig. Of things.
c. 1585. Montgomerie, Sonn., lv. 9. My secrete sighis, solisters for my sute.
1617. Hieron, Wks., II. 114. Such a conscience … will be a perpetuall solliciter, till it hath brought a man before the Lord.
1652. Crashaw, Carmen Deo Nostro, Wks. (1904). 195. Cymballs of Heav’n, or Humane sphears, Solliciters of Soules or Eares.
† 4. A suitor (to a woman). Obs.
c. 1590. Faire Em, IV. iii. Both which shaddowes of my irreuocable affections I haue not sparde to confirme before him … and all other amorous soliciters.
Hence † Solicitership, = SOLICITORSHIP 1. Obs.
1592. Chettle, Kind-Harts Dr. (1841), 49. Hauing scraped vp a few common places, and, by long sollicitership, got in to be an odd atturney.
