# solicit

> English word · Verb · IPA /səˈlɪsɪt/ · frequency rank #26,968

## Definitions
1. To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.
2. To woo; to court.
3. To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior.
4. To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment.
5. To make a petition.
6. To disturb or trouble; to harass.
7. To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to.
8. To disturb; to disquiet.

## Etymology
From Middle English soliciten, solliciten, from Old French soliciter, solliciter, borrowed from Latin sollicitō (“stir, disturb; look after”), from sollicitus (“agitated, anxious, punctilious”, literally “thoroughly moved”), from sollus (“whole, entire”) + perfect passive participle of cieō (“shake, excite, cite, to put in motion”).

## Easily confused with
- **solidity** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solicit-vs-solidity)
- **solicitor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solicit-vs-solicitor)
- **solicited** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/solicit-vs-solicited)

## Common misspellings (10)
`oslicit`, `sloicit`, `soilcit`, `solciit`, `soliccit`, `solicitt`, `solicti`, `soliict`, `sollicit`, `ssolicit`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/solicit