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”).
To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.
to solicit alms, or a favour
I view my crime, but kindle at the view, Repent old pleasures, and solicit new. Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?1717, Alexander Pope, “Eloisa to Abelard”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC:
2
To woo; to court.
American railroads are not permitted to operate long-haul road routes, but the I.C.C. decision of 1954 did permit them to solicit trailer business in, say, New York for Chicago provided the trailer was piggybacked in between.1960 November, David Morgan, “"Piggyback"—U.S. success story”, in Trains Illustrated, page 683:
3
To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior.
That fruit […] sollicited her longing eye.1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Sounds and some tangible qualities fail not to solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind., Book II, Chapter 1
1 more example
If you want to lose your virginity, you should try to solicit some fine looking women.
4
To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment.
My girlfriend tried to solicit me for sex, but I was tired.
1611-1615, George Chapman, Iliad, Book XVI Hath any ill solicited thine ears?
But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 3:
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”).
(1) How many male or female students are named (or otherwise identified) in the context of a solicit? (2) How many words of a solicit are directed to a particular student?2017, Lia Litosseliti, Research Methods in Linguistics, page 19: