petition

Where does the word "petition" come from? It comes from Latin petitio, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Petition’s story begins in Latin: petitio meant “a seeking, a request.” A seeking, a request, from petere (to seek). It reached English by 1300s as petition. Settled as the English word for a formal written request. Today, petition means a formal written request, often signed by many people, appealing for a cause.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient petitio "a seeking, a request", a seeking, a request, from petere (to seek).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s petition "a formal written request, especially signed by many people", settled as the English word for a formal written request.