supplicate
verb
sup·pli·cate ˈsə-plə-ˌkāt 
supplicated; supplicating
intransitive verb
: to make a humble entreaty
especially : to pray to God
transitive verb
1
: to ask humbly and earnestly of
2
: to ask for earnestly and humbly
supplication
ˌsə-plə-ˈkā-shən
noun 
Synonyms
- appeal (to)
- beg
- beseech
- besiege
- conjure
- entreat
- impetrate
- implore
- importune
- petition
- plead (to)
- pray
- solicit
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the minister reminded his flock that God is a being to be obeyed and worshipped always and not just someone to be supplicated in times of trouble
Recent Examples on the Web Now, finally, Farley, as chief of Ford for barely half a year, has come to supplicate before the narrative. 
Dale Buss, Forbes, 1 June 2021 Committees should draw power from their accomplishments, not based on which industries need to supplicate before the gavel. Ben Sasse, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2020 Two rows of little red devils bow at the magician’s feet, as though supplicating a supreme figure of dark and mysterious powers. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2020 But while its competitors were giving grandiose speeches and supplicating at the White House, the company’s content-moderation choices stood out as an example of a social network with a moral compass. Kevin Roose, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2019 To restore their good standing, executives must supplicate, with minimal guidance from the party-state. Isaac Stone Fish, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2019 Women run many Sufi shrines across Tunisia, prepare and serve food for worshipers and the needy, while women are allowed to pray and supplicate at shrines alongside men – a rarity at Islamic sites. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2018 See More
Dale Buss, Forbes, 1 June 2021 Committees should draw power from their accomplishments, not based on which industries need to supplicate before the gavel. Ben Sasse, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2020 Two rows of little red devils bow at the magician’s feet, as though supplicating a supreme figure of dark and mysterious powers. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2020 But while its competitors were giving grandiose speeches and supplicating at the White House, the company’s content-moderation choices stood out as an example of a social network with a moral compass. Kevin Roose, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2019 To restore their good standing, executives must supplicate, with minimal guidance from the party-state. Isaac Stone Fish, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2019 Women run many Sufi shrines across Tunisia, prepare and serve food for worshipers and the needy, while women are allowed to pray and supplicate at shrines alongside men – a rarity at Islamic sites. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English supplicaten "to make a request," borrowed from Latin supplicātus, past participle of supplicāre "to seek the goodwill (of a person wronged) with peace offerings, sue for forgiveness, beg humbly," derivative of supplic-, supplex "making humble entreaty, suppliant" — more at supple entry 1
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Kids Definition
supplicate
verb
sup·pli·cate ˈsə-plə-ˌkāt
supplicated; supplicating
: to ask or beg in a humble way : beseech
supplication
noun
as in prayer
an earnest request the Red Cross made an urgent supplication for donations of food and blankets for the earthquake victims Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- prayer
- plea
- appeal
- petition
- pleading
- entreaty
- cry
- desire
- solicitation
- adjuration
- application
- conjuration
- suit
- demand
- suppliance
- insistence
- call
- requisition
- claim