sb. Also 5 supl-. [a. OF. (mod.F.) supplication (= It. supplicazione, Sp. suplicacion, Pg. supplicação), ad. L. supplicātio, -ōnem, n. of action f. supplicāre to SUPPLICATE.] The action, or an act, of supplicating; humble or earnest petition or entreaty.
1384. in Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 36. At the supplicacion of the Mayre Sherefs and Communalyte of the cite of London to vs mekely Imade.
c. 1399. Chaucer, Purse, 26. Ye that mowen alle myn harme amende Haue mynde vpon my supplicacion.
1417. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 58. Hee dayly made suplication to have peace.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 227. His moder and his wife … made a supplicacion to hym for the savegarde of the cite.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., V. cxxxi. (1811), 114. He … ordeyned such meanes as byllys of supplicacion,… that the causes and matiers of poore men myght come to his knowlege.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 80. They made humble supplication to the Admirall.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1459. I have attempted … the Lords … With supplication prone and Fathers tears To accept of ransom for my Son.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xviii. (1787), II. 94. Peace was at length granted to their humble supplications.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiv. III. 475. Pathetic earnestness of supplication.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng., II. viii. 301. In a moment the noise and bravado … was hushed into a supplication for forgiveness.
b. A written or formal petition. Obs. exc. Hist.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 352. Whanne I this Supplicacioun … Hadde after min entente write Unto Cupide and to Venus.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., xiv. (1885), 143. Þat all supplicacions wich shalbe made to þe kynge … be sende to þe … counsell.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 90. Schir patrick gray … passit haistelie with the said wreitting and supplicatioun of the kingis to the erle of douglas.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xiii. 78. Whats heere? ‘The humble supplication of Don Bazulto for his murdred Sonne.’
1606. Dekker, Newes fr. Hell, Wks. (Grosart), II. 91. Great wagers were layd … that when the Supplication was sent, it would not be receyued; or if receyued, it would not be read ouer.
1650. [see SUPPLICANT sb.].
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxx. A paper, termed a Remonstrance and Supplication. Ibid. (1822), Nigel, iii. To have the Supplication put into his Majesty’s own hands.
c. (A) humble prayer addressed to God (or a deity); chiefly pl., esp. in phr. prayers and supplications; spec. the petitions for special blessings in litanies.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xiii. 46. Bifore the aulters thei offred sacrifices with grete supplycacyons and prayers.
1526. Tindale, Acts i. 14. These all continued with one acorde in prayer and supplicacion. Ibid., 1 Tim. ii. 1. That … prayeers, supplicacions, peticions, and gevynge of thankes be had for all men.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 3. The sayd Moyses … made supplicacyon to God.
1549. Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, ad fin. Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplicacions and praiers. Ibid., Litany, ad fin. With one accorde to make our comune supplicacions unto thee.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. § 6. 154. I cannot see one say his Prayers, but in stead of imitating him, I fall into a supplication for him.
1657. Sparrow, Bk. Com. Prayer, 100. These Collects after the Letany, though the matter of them hath been prayed for before particularly in the Supplications foregoing [etc.].
1663. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxv. (1687), 278. In devout supplications to Jesus.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. § 27. 455. We conclude, that this Kyrie Eleeson, or Domine Miserere, in Arrianus, was a Pagan Litany or Supplication to the Supreme God.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, X. xxvi. Each among the train To his own Idol lifts his supplications vain.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. i. The churches resounded with supplications and groans.
1882. Encycl. Brit., XIV. 696/1. From an early period the special written litanies of the various churches all showed the common features which are now regarded as essential to a litany, in as far as they consisted of (1) invocations, (2) deprecations, (3) intercessions, (4) supplications.
d. Rom. Antiq. A religious solemnity decreed on the occasion of some important public event, esp. in thanksgiving for victory.
1606. Holland, Sueton., 10. By reason that his affaires sped well … hee obtained in regard thereof solemne Supplications both oftner, and to hold more daies than ever any man did (before himselfe).
1741. Middleton, Cicero (1742), II. VII. 229. After the contemptible account which Cicero gives of Bibulus’s conduct in Syria, it must appear strange to see him honored with a supplication, and aspiring even to a Triumph.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., App. s.v., On subduing the Sabines, in the year of the city 304, a supplication of one day only was ordained.
e. spec. In Oxford University, a formal petition for a degree or for incorporation: cf. SUPPLICAT.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. Fasti, 640. This year was a Supplication made in the ven. Congregation of Regents for one Rich. Bere … to be graduated in Divinity. Ibid., 670. Richard Brynckley … Dr. of Divinity of Cambridge…. His supplication … was granted … and his incorporation … set down … under this year (1524).
1810. Oxf. Univ. Cal., 3. In the Congregation degrees are conferred, graces or supplications for them having been there previously proposed and passed.
1895. Rashdall, Univ. Europe, II. 508. This abstention on the part of Wykehamists from the ‘supplications,’ which had come to be regarded as essential to all other candidates.
Hence Supplication v., trans. to make supplication to; Supplicationer, a petitioner.
1585. in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., V. 106. Against th’untruth of such libellers and supplicationers.
1589. [? Nashe], Almond for Parrat, N.’s Wks. 1905, III. 365. The Protestationer, Demonstrationer, Supplicationer, Appellationer. Ibid. (1593), Christ’s T., Wks. (Grosart), IV. 61. I haue … humbly supplicationd you, to accept of my largesse.
