plead, appeal, beg, petition, entreat, pray

名詞 petition:

1. a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
   同義詞：request, postulation
2. reverent petition to a deity
   同義詞：prayer, orison

動詞 petition:

1. write a petition for something to somebody; request formally and in writing

1. Many subscribers' names are in the petition.
   請愿書上有很多簽名者的名字。
2. They signed a petition in support of the workers' demands.
   他們在請愿書上簽名，支持工人的請求。
3. They rejected his petition for naturalization.
   他們拒絕了他的入籍申請。
4. She petitioned her neighbor to turn down the radio.
   她請求鄰居把收音機關(guān)小點聲。
5. She filed a petition for divorce.
   她提出了離婚申請。

pe.ti.tion

n.（名詞）
A solemn supplication or request to a superior authority; an entreaty.
請愿，懇求：向上級政府當局提出鄭重的懇求或請求；懇求
A formal written document requesting a right or benefit from a person or group in authority.
請愿書：向政府的某位官員或團體請求權(quán)力或利益的正式書面文件
Law
【法律】
A formal written application requesting a court for a specific judicial action:
申請狀，訴狀：為某一特定的法律行為要求法庭審理而寫的正式書面申請：
例句：
a petition for appeal.
訴訟狀

The judicial action asked for in any such request.
訴請：在任何這種申請下要求的法律行為
Something requested or entreated.
訴狀的內(nèi)容：所呈請或懇求的東西
v.（動詞）
pe.ti.tioned,pe.ti.tion.ing,pe.ti.tions
v.tr.（及物動詞）
To address a petition to.
向…懇求
To ask for by petition; request formally.
請愿：通過請愿書來請求；正式要求
v.intr.（不及物動詞）
To make a request, especially formally:
訴請：請求，尤指正式地請求：
例句：
petitioned for retrial.
請求復審

來源：
Middle English peticion
中古英語 peticion
from Old French petition
源自 古法語 petition
from Latin petotiô petotiôn-
源自 拉丁語 petotiô petotiôn-
from petotus [past participle of] petere [to request] * see pet-
源自 petotus [] petere的過去分詞 [要求] *參見 pet-

【引伸】
peti.tionar.y
peti.tioner
n.（名詞）