Petition

(pe-tĭsh'un), n. [Lat. petitio, fr. petere, petitum, to beg, ask; Fr. pétition, Pr. peticio, Sp. peticion, It. petizione.] A prayer; a begging; a request; an entreaty, especially of a formal kind; as, (a.) A prayer to the Supreme Being, or to a person of superior power, rank, influence, or authority, or a single clause in such a prayer. “Would not stay at your petition.” Shak. (b.) A written request to a person or organized body having power to grant the request; a supplication addressed to a sovereign or a legislative body;—in distinction from a memorial, which calls certain facts to mind. (c.) Hence, also, the paper containing such a prayer.