petition

«petition» in Mova's school dictionary: a written request, signed by many people, asking someone… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

noun (a petition, petitions); verb (petition, petitions, petitioned, petitioning)

meaning for a pupil

1) A petition is a written request, signed by many people, asking someone in power to do or change something. tree →

2) To petition someone is to make a formal request to them, often with a petition. tree →

3) (law) A formal written request to a court. tree →

4) (church) A prayer that asks God for something. tree →

sense in the lessons

In citizenship lessons, pupils learn that a petition is a peaceful way to ask for change, such as a new crossing near school. Online petitions collect signatures. In church, the prayers of petition ask God for help. Phrases: «sign a petition», «start a petition», «petition the council», «a petition for divorce» (law).

examples

• We started a petition for a new zebra crossing. tree →
• Over five hundred people signed our petition. tree →
• The children petitioned the head teacher for a longer break. tree →
• The petition was handed to the mayor. tree →
• In church we prayed petitions for the sick. tree →
• Mum signed an online petition to save the library. tree →
• The court received a petition from the family. tree →
• So they sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king. tree →

note

Noun and verb; past «petitioned». A petitioner is a person who makes a petition. Maths: count the signatures and compare with a target (e.g. «we need a thousand; we have six hundred, so we need four hundred more»).

In the corpora

• When people want something changed, they can protest peacefully, sign a petition, or stop work together in a strike.
• Suffragists campaigned for votes for women with petitions, meetings and peaceful marches, and Millicent Fawcett led them in Britain.
• A debate on a petition does not mean the law changes; it puts the idea in front of MPs.
• For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath granted me my petition which I asked of Him;
• And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not.' And she said unto him: 'Say on.'

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «petition» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.