Tried to influence a politician or official to support a particular cause or law.
From 'lobby' (an entrance hall of a building, or a group seeking influence), which comes from Latin 'lobia' (portico). Politicians would be approached in the lobbies of parliaments, giving the word its meaning.
The word 'lobbied' comes from the actual lobby—the entrance hall where people could casually approach politicians, so 'lobbying' literally started as people hanging out in hallways trying to change lawmakers' minds.
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