Also 5–6 sol-, 6 sollycytude, 6–8 sollicitude, 6 -ud. [a. OF. sol-, sollicitude (mod.F. sollicitude, = Sp. solicitud, Pg. solicitude, It. solli-, sollecitudine), or ad. L. sōl-, sollicitūdo, f. sollicitus SOLICIT a.]
1. The state of being solicitous or uneasy in mind; disquietude, anxiety; care, concern.
a. 1412[?]. Lydg., Two Merchants, 580. So ar we travailed with solicitude.
1528. Paynell, Salerne’s Regim. (1617), 178. Sollicitude, feare, sadnesse, sleepe it drowneth in.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), M vij b. Such as are of a delicate bloudde, haue not soo much sollicitude as the rustical people.
a. 1631. Donne, Select. (1840), 169. Lazarus come forth … from your waters … of solicitude.
1684. Contempl. State of Man, I. i. (1699), 4. What we desire with impatience, being possessed, brings Care and Solicitude.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Hist., III. i. § 1. Yet did the disturbance … in his soul plainly appear by the solicitude he was in.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., IV. Wks. 1813, V. 413. Bourbon, on his part, was far from being free from solicitude.
1833. I. Taylor, Fanaticism, v. 102. Free from solicitude, because free from wants.
1849. W. Irving, Mahomed, vii. (1853), 36. These, and other causes of solicitude, preyed upon his spirits.
2. Anxious, special, or particular care or attention.
a. 1535. More, Treatise Sacr., Wks. 1266. What diligence can here suffyse vs? What solicitude can we thynke here ynough? agaynste the cummyng of thys almightye king.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 185. I could wish that the sollicitude and care of the elder [brother] savoured rather of a companion … than of a father.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 39, ¶ 4. That it is not to be envied for its happiness, appears from the solicitude with which it is avoided.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. Pref. 7. He has endeavoured, with no small degree of solicitude, to engage their generous affections.
1847. Disraeli, Tancred, I. I. ii. 34–5. Never had such solicitude been lavished on human being.
1879. Loftie, Ride in Egypt, 173. The antiquities of Egypt have been made subjects of Government solicitude.
b. Const. about, for, or to (with inf.).
c. 1475. Henryson, Poems (S.T.S.), III. 60. The grete sollicitude … to wyn this warldis gud, Cessis furthwith.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. xxiv. (S.T.S.), I. 229. Þe pepill tuke na sollicitude bot alanerlie for sic thingis as mycht erast fortifie þis new law.
1660. R. Coke, Justice Vind., 11. There is in every man a solicitude how to live, and so to live that his living be not a burden.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. ii. Wks. 1874, I. 34. There is reason also for the most active thought and solicitude, to secure that interest.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 174, ¶ 14. This alarm which they spread by their solicitude to escape me.
1837. Lockhart, Scott, II. vii. 256. That lively solicitude about points of antiquarian detail.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., x. They manifested affectionate solicitude for them.
† c. Const. of. Obs.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xii. 43. Nor wyth hym remayneth nother … care ne solycytude of thy loue.
1540. Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 26. His grace taketh the care and sollicitud therof.
1541. R. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 D ij. He hath sollycytude of all the body.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. xii. 52. To be in a perpetuall solicitude of the time to come.
3. pl. Cares, troubles, anxieties, etc.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxvii. 98. Alle werkes & operacyions humayne, with their solicitudes.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., Q iij b. Aske yf he hath had great solycytudes, & chargeable thoughtes.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., I. xvi. 58. Those hard trialls and disquieting solicitudes that naturally will attempt them.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, p. iv. You may refresh your Mind, wearied with perpetual Sollicitudes and Labours.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxxii. Mrs. Todgers looked a little worn by cares of gravy and other such solicitudes.
1872. Geo. Eliot, Middlem., i. To her the destinies of mankind … made the solicitudes of feminine fashion appear an occupation for Bedlam.
† 4. Solicitation; importunate petition. Obs.–1
1556. Aurelio & Isab. (1608), B iv. Isabell became … verye sore il loue with him, seing the verye greate sollicitude and requeste that he made vnto her.
Hence † Solicitudeness. Obs. rare.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, ccliii. 85 b. It may come of solicitudenes or great study occupyenge the memory so much that it is fracted. Ibid., cccxxi. 104. Yf it come by great study and solicitudnes.
