Asked for or requested something, usually formally or earnestly; or attracted or tempted someone toward something.
From Latin 'sollicitare'—'sollus' (whole) and 'citus' (set in motion), meaning to shake or agitate thoroughly. The word evolved from physical agitation to mean persistent requests or appeals.
The same Latin root 'sollicitare' gives us 'solicit' and 'solicitous' (showing care)—so a solicitous person literally 'shakes things up' emotionally by caring so deeply, connecting the ancient sense of physical motion to emotional intensity.
Legal and social definitions of 'solicitation' carry gendered weight, especially in contexts of sex work and street crime, where enforcement disproportionately targets women. Language conflates consensual invitation with criminalized 'soliciting.'
Distinguish 'solicited' (requested/invited) from criminal meanings by context. In legal or safety discussions, specify what behavior is referenced.
["requested","invited","sought"]
Sex workers and their advocates reclaim 'solicitation' language to assert agency and distinguish survival work from trafficking, challenging criminalized narratives.
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