petition

Definition

A formal written request made by an individual or a group of people to a sovereign or political authority, often containing many signatures, soliciting some grace, right, mercy, or the redress of some wrong or grievance.

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French peticiun, from stem of Latin petitio, petitionem (“a request, solicitation”), from petere (“to require, seek, go forward”).

Example Sentences

• "We're looking to get 10,000 people to sign the petition to have the bird colony given legal protection."
• "a petition to aid"
• "a petition to God for courage and strength"