I. Lit., an attack, a blow, thrust, pass: “tuas petiti ones effugi,” Cic. Cat. 1, 6, 15; cf.: “petitiones proprie dicimus impetus gladiorum,” Serv. Verg. A. 9, 439.—
B. Trop., an attack made in words before a court of justice, Cic. Or. 68, 228; “or in debate,” id. Cat. 1, 6, 15; cf.: “novi omnis hominis petitiones rationesque dicendi,” methods of attack, Cic. Div. in Caecil. 14, 44; id. de Or. 3, 54, 206.—
II. In gen., a requesting, beseeching; a request, petition for any thing (postAug.), Plin. 29, 4, 19, § 66: huic quoque petitioni tuae negare non sustineo, Traj. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 7 (23); Gell. 11, 16, 8 al.—
2. Esp. (eccl. Lat.), a request offered to God, a prayer: “impleat Dominus omnes petitiones tuas,” Vulg. Psa. 19, 6; id. Phil. 4, 6; id. 1 Johan. 5, 15: petitionem offerre Domino Deo, Mos. et Rom. Leg. Coll. 16, 1, 4.—
B. In partic.
1. An applying or soliciting for office, an application, solicitation, candidacy, Cic. Att. 1, 1, 1: “petitioni se dari,” to become a candidate for office, id. Fam. 13, 10, 2: “consulatus,” Caes. B. C. 1, 22: “pontificatūs,” Sall. C. 49, 2: “regni,” Just. 1, 10, 17: “tribunatūs et aedilitatis,” Val. Max. 6, 9, 14: “dare alicui petitionem consulatūs,” to admit one as a candidate for the consulship, Suet. Caes. 26: “abstinere petitione honorum,” Tac. A. 2, 43; Suet. Caes. 28: “petitioni se dare,” to solicit an office, Cic. Fam. 13, 10.—
2. A laying claim to any thing, a suit, petition, in private or civil cases (opp. the accusatio, in criminal cases): “petitio pecuniae,” Quint. 4, 4, 6: “hereditatis,” Dig. 44, 5, 3: “integram petitionem relinquere,” Cic. Rosc. Com. 18, 56.—