Petition

King James Dictionary

PETI'TION, n. L. petitio, from peto, to ask, properly to urge or press.

1. In a general sense, a request, supplication or prayer but chiefly and appropriately, a solemn or formal supplication a prayer addressed by a person to the Supreme Being, for something needed or desired, or a branch or particular article of prayer. 2. A formal request or supplication, verbal or written particularly, a written supplication from an inferior to a superior, either to a single person clothed with power, or to a legislative or other body, soliciting some favor, grant, right or mercy. 3. The paper containing a supplication or solicitation. Much of the time of our legislative bodies is consumed in attending to private petitions. The speaker's table is often loaded with petitions. Petitions to the king of Great Britain must contain nothing reflecting on the administration.

PETI'TION, To make a request to to ask from to solicit particularly, to make supplication to a superior for some favor or right as, to petition the legislature to petition a court of chancery.

The mother petitioned her goddess to bestow on them the greatest gift that could be given.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A prayer; a supplication; an imploration; an entreaty; especially, a request of a solemn or formal kind; a prayer to the Supreme Being, or to a person of superior power, rank, or authority; also, a single clause in such a prayer.

(2): ( n.) A formal written request addressed to an official person, or to an organized body, having power to grant it; specifically (Law), a supplication to government, in either of its branches, for the granting of a particular grace or right; - in distinction from a memorial, which calls certain facts to mind; also, the written document.

(3): ( v. t.) To make a prayer or request to; to ask from; to solicit; to entreat; especially, to make a formal written supplication, or application to, as to any branch of the government; as, to petition the court; to petition the governor.

(4): ( v. i.) To make a petition or solicitation.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Αἴτημα (Strong'S #155 — Noun Neuter — aitema — ah'ee-tay-mah )

from aiteo, "to ask" is rendered "petitions" in  1—John 5:15 : see Ask , B, and cp. the distinction between A, Nos. 1 and 2. Cp. deesis (see Prayer

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

According to Dr. Watts, is the fourth part of prayer, and includes a desire of deliverance from evil, and a request of good things to be bestowed. On both these accounts petitions are to be offered up to God, not only for ourselves, but for our fellow-creatures also. This part of prayer is frequently called intercession.

See PRAYER.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Prayer

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pḗ - tish´un  : Used in English Versions of the Bible only as a noun, usually as representing the Hebrew שׁאלה , she'ēlāh ( Psalm 20:5 , משׁאלה , mish'ālāh ), from the common verb שׁאל , shā'al , "to ask." The noun, consequently, has no technical meaning, and may be used indifferently in the active ( Esther 7:2 ) or passive ( 1 Samuel 1:27 ) sense, or for a petition addressed to either God ( 1 Samuel 1:17 ) or man ( 1 Kings 2:16 ), while in  Judges 8:24;  Job 6:8;  Psalm 106:15 , it is rendered simply "request." Otherwise "petition" represents the Aramaic בּעוּ , bā‛ū ( Daniel 6:7 ,  Daniel 6:13 ), the Greek αἴτημα , aı́tēma ( 1 John 5:15 ), and δέησις , déēsis ( 1 Macc 7:37 , the Revised Version (British and American) "supplication"), and the Latin oratio (  2 Esdras 8:24 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

according to Dr. Watts, is the fourth part of prayer, and includes a desire of deliverance from evil, and a request of good things to be bestowed. On both these accounts petitions are to be offered up to God, not only for ourselves, but for our fellow-creatures also. This part of prayer is frequently called intercession. (See Prayer).