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Ask vs Solicit - What's the difference?

ask | solicit |

As verbs the difference between ask and solicit

is that ask is to request (information, or an answer to a question) while solicit is to persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.

As a noun ask

is an act or instance of asking.

As a proper noun Ask

is the first male human, according to the Poetic Edda.

ask

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) asken, from (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)
  • To request (information, or an answer to a question).
  • I asked her age.
  • To put forward (a question) to be answered.
  • to ask a question
  • To interrogate or enquire of (a person).
  • I'm going to ask this lady for directions.
  • * Bible, John ix. 21
  • He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
  • To request or petition; usually with for .
  • to ask for a second helping at dinner
    to ask for help with homework
  • * Bible, Matthew vii. 7
  • Ask , and it shall be given you.
  • To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity.
  • What price are you asking for the house?
  • * Addison
  • An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to maturity.
  • To invite.
  • Don't ask them to the wedding.
  • To publish in church for marriage; said of both the banns and the persons.
  • (Fuller)
  • (figuratively) To take (a person's situation) as an example.
  • *
  • Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See * Pronouncing ask as /æks/ is a common example of metathesis and a feature of some varieties of English, notably African American Vernacular English (AAVE). * The action expressed by the verb ask'' can also be expressed by the noun-verb combination ''pose a question'' (confer the parallel in German between ''fragen'' and ''eine Frage stellen ).
    Derived terms
    * ask after * ask around * ask for * ask in * ask out * ask over * ask round * for the asking * no questions asked * outask

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act or instance of asking.
  • * 2005 , Laura Fredricks, The ask :
  • To ask for a gift is a privilege, a wonderful expression of commitment to and ownership of the organization. Getting a yes to an ask can be a rush, but asking for the gift can and should be just as rewarding.
  • Something asked or asked for; a request.
  • * 2008 , Doug Fields, Duffy Robbins, Speaking to Teenagers :
  • Communication researchers call this the foot-in-the-door syndrome. Essentially it's based on the observation that people who respond positively to a small “ask'” are more likely to respond to a bigger “' ask ” later on.
  • An asking price.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) aske, arske, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    *

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An eft; newt.
  • * 1876 , S. Smiles, Scottish Naturalist :
  • He looked at the beast. It was not an eel. It was very like an ask .
  • A lizard.
  • Statistics

    *

    solicit

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event.
  • to solicit alms, or a favour
  • * Alexander Pope
  • I view my crime, but kindle at the view, / Repent old pleasures, and solicit new.
    Did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?
  • To woo; to court.
  • To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior.
  • * Milton
  • That fruit solicited her longing eye.
  • * Locke
  • Sounds and some tangible qualities solicit their proper senses, and force an entrance to the mind.
    If you want to lose your virginity, you should try to solicit some fine looking women.
  • To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment.
  • My girlfriend tried to solicit me for sex, but I was tired.
  • To make a petition.
  • (archaic) To disturb or trouble; to harass.
  • To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to.
  • * Ford
  • Should / My brother henceforth study to forget / The vow that he hath made thee, I would ever / Solicit thy deserts.
  • (obsolete, rare) To disturb; to disquiet.
  • * Chapman
  • Hath any ill solicited thine ears?
  • * Dryden
  • But anxious fears solicit my weak breast.

    Synonyms

    * request * plead * appeal * thig * supplicate

    Anagrams

    *