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”).
1
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.
We're looking to get 10,000 people to sign the petition to have the bird colony given legal protection.
2
LawBroadly A formal written application made to a magistrate or court for an order or a suit for divorce.
3
A prayer or supplication, especially of which is formal or humble and made to a deity, a sovereign, or an authority.
a petition to aid
a petition to God for courage and strength
1 more example
A house of prayer and petition for thy people.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Maccabees 7:37:
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”).
1
To make a petition to (a sovereign or political authority).
The villagers petitioned the council to demolish the dangerous building.
The company, appreciating the crippling affect ^([sic]) that this scheme will have on its activities unless the railway is diverted, has petitioned against the North Wales Hydro-Electric Power Bill at present before the House of Lords.1955 April, “Notes and News: Restoring the Festiniog Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 288: