petitionary

[ puh-tish-uh-ner-ee ]

adjective

1. of the nature of or expressing a petition.
2. Archaic. petitioning; suppliant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of petitionary¹

First recorded in 1570–80; petition + -ary

Example Sentences

This highest form of prayer in Class B merges almost imperceptibly into Class C, where prayer loses its petitionary character, and becomes either a meditation on, or a worship of, God.

From Project Gutenberg

Do its requests represent the best modern conception of prayer as an inward aspiration rather than as petitionary?

From Project Gutenberg

And, therefore, no petitionary prayers find a place in the service of the ethical Church.

From Project Gutenberg

This logic even the Hyperborean understands; fast enough, with apologetic, petitionary growl, he sidles off; and, except for suicidal as well as homicidal purposes, need not return.

From Project Gutenberg

Conversely, the State may revoke an improvident grant of the public petitionary without recourse to the power of eminent domain, such a grant being inherently beyond the power of the State to make.

From Project Gutenberg