▪ I. request, n.1
(rɪˈkwɛst)
Also 4–5 requeste, 5 Sc. raquest, 6 Sc. requeist, requeast.
[a. OF. requeste (12th c.; mod.F. requête) = Prov., Sp., and Pg. requesta, It. richiesta: see quest n.1 and require v.]
I. 1. The act, on the part of a specified person, of asking for some favour, service, etc.; the expression of one's desire or wish directly addressed to the person or persons able to gratify it: a. in phr. at (one's) request.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 266 Þise kynges stille þei left at þe pape's request. c 1398 Chaucer Fortune 76 At my requeste..releue hym of hys peyne. c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 573 Wyll ye your rancour sese at my request? 1470–85 Malory Arthur iii. iv. 103 He hadde made hym knyght at the request of the Cowherd. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 3388 Ȝe sall, at Chastities requeist, Pas and exame ȝon thrie. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. ii. v. 23 Iaq...Wil you sing? Amy. More at your request, then to please my selfe. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. i. 228 At my request..they let her go a drift. 1821 Shelley Ginevra 102 Her maidens.. left her at her own request to keep An hour of quiet. |
b. in other contexts. Also (
esp. with verbs of giving, refusing, obtaining, etc.), the matter or subject of the asking; that which one asks for.
Usually differing from next only by the use of the possessive pronoun.
| c 1410 Hoccleve Mother of God 95 Our Lord god nat list to werne thee Of thy requeste. c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 215 That I may, by your request, her good grace gete. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) Introd. 6 Whos request to me is a comaundement. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. viii. 59 With siclik wordis hir request scho maid. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 295 b, Alexander could in no wyse abyde to haue any nay in his requestes. 1607 Shakes. Timon i. i. 279 No I will doe nothing at thy bidding: Make thy requests to thy Friend. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 111 This also thy request with caution askt Obtaine. 1714 Pope Imit. Hor. ii. vi. 77 Consider, 'tis my first request. 1827 Pollok Course T. x, Thus have I sung beyond thy first request. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 427, I fear that I may seem ungracious if I refuse your courteous request. |
2. a. An act or instance of asking for something; a petition or expressed desire; a writing or document of this nature; also, that which is asked for.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 99 (148) Lo here an hard request, A resonable lady for to werne. c 1460 Sir R. Ros La Belle Dame 146 Of his yen the shot y knewe anon, Which federid was with right humble requestis. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop ii. i, They alle to gyder..maade a request to Jupiter that he wold gyue them a kynge. 1563 Winȝet Wks. (S.T.S.) II. 33 It is a iust requeist. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. i. vi. 181, I had almost forgot T'intreat your Grace, but in a small request. 1668 Denham Passion of Dido Poems 136 Ask him to lend To this, the last request that I shall send, A gentle Ear. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xvii. II. 67 In a poetical request, addressed to one of the last..of the Roman Princes who reigned in Gaul. 1838 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) III. vi. 88 The request made in the foregoing letter was conceded. 1876 G. D. Ham Revenue Vade-m. 567 The conditions under which the request is granted..are to be written or printed on the request. |
b. spec. A letter, etc., asking for a particular record, song, etc., to be played on a radio programme, often accompanied by a personal message; a record played or a song, etc., sung, either over the radio or to a live audience in response to a request.
| 1928 Radio Times 12 Oct. 79/3 The B.B.C. can never promise to comply with requests, for..suitable opportunities may not arise for weeks or even months. 1949 Ibid. 15 July 24/3 Listeners' requests played by Sandy Macpherson at the BBC theatre organ. 1966 Listener 4 Aug. 181/3 Judging by the requests, the classical and pre-classical composers are out. 1977 Zigzag Mar. 8/2 My sister..saw Roy Eldridge..playing requests in a bar. |
3. Without article.
† a. to make request, to ask or beg.
Obs.| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 281 To be excused I make requeste. c 1440 Partonope 4971 God..I now Reney Yf for hym make I request To yow. c 1470 Henry Wallace xi. 351 Quhat gestis he had; to tell thai mak raquest. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 370 Theyr adversaries had made request to be heard in these thinges only. 1611 Bible Neh. ii. 4 Then y⊇ king said.., For what doest thou make request? 1700 Dryden Sigism. & Guisc. 390, I neither am disposed to make Request for life, nor offered life to take. |
| Comb. a 1598 Rollock Wks. (Wodrow Soc.) II. xxvi. 306 The request-maker was one Joseph. |
b. The act of asking or fact of being asked (to do something). Chiefly in prepositional phrases, now
esp. by request, in response to an expressed wish (
† so
at request).
| c 1460 Sir R. Ros La Belle Dame 122 For the compleynt..Cam to his voyce alway with-out request. 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus iv. 741 With all requeist excuse that ȝe wald me. 1589 R. Humston (title) A Sermon preached at Reyfham..and eftsoones at request published. 1607 Shakes. Cor. ii. iii. 150 The Custome of Request you haue discharg'd. 1683 Sir H. Grimstone tr. Croke's Rep. I. 548 Where one is bound to levy a Fine upon Request. 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v., For the relief of petitioners, who..should address themselves, by way of request, to his majesty. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) IV. 486 That then the said R. Booth, his heirs, &c. upon request,..should grant and execute..a new lease. 1841 tr. Anc. Laws & Inst. Wales XIII. 632/2 There are three motes of request: for tillage; festal games; and the burning of woods. 1976 Daily Tel. 20 July 2/7 A list should be provided on request. |
† 4. A knightly quest.
Obs. rare.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur iii. v. 105 Thenne were they called al thre.., and eueryche of hem..armed them surely. But sir gauayne had the fyrst request, and therfore we wille begynne at hym. |
† 5. Math. A postulate.
Obs. rare.
| 1551 Recorde Pathw. Knowl. ii. xxii, [Because] all ryghte angles bee equall togyther (by the fourth request). 1570 Billingsley Euclid i. Postul. 6 Peticions or requestes. 1709–29 V. Mandey Syst. Math., Arith. 5 Requests or Petitions. 1. That to any Number we may take a greater. |
6. The fact, state, or condition of being asked for or sought after; demand;
† vogue, fashion. Chiefly in phrases (
a)
in request or
into request,
† (
b)
of request,
† (
c)
out of request.
† Also
pl.| a. 1586 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1589) 753 We shall see cleerely enough that the faithful ought to have that in great request. 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. 15 My gowne and attyre according to the custome then in request. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶3 To bring his abridgements into request. 1667 Pepys Diary 2 Sept., The only fruit in request..was the Katharine payre. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 47 ¶2 Idiots are still in Request in most of the Courts of Germany. 1822 Hazlitt Table-t. Ser. ii. iii. (1869) 71 It may perhaps come into request at some future period. 1871 Smiles Charac. ii. (1876) 55 Human intelligence, which is in constant request in a family, needs to be educated. |
| b. 1599 H. Buttes Dyets drie Dinner C iij, Both these, are of last and least request. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage ii. iii. 100 Gilgal was a place of request in this kinde. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv. 145 The colour of greatest request among them is greene. 1655 Moufet & Bennet Health's Improv. 167 Shrimps were of great request amongst the Romans. |
| c. 1592 G. Harvey Four Lett. Wks. (Grosart) I. 191 Even Guicciardines siluer history, and Ariostos golden cantoes, grow out of request. 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 78 All these stones being out of request with vs, are to be bought for Russia and other places. 1635 R. N. tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. ii. 167 These books..were often read untill..being contemned they grew out of request. |
| d. 1601 Shakes. All's Well i. i. 169 Off with't while 'tis vendible. Answer the time of request. 1690 Temple Ess., Poetry Wks. 1731 I. 249 While this World lasts, I doubt not but the Pleasures and Requests of these two Entertainments will do so too. |
† 7. in the request of, in search of.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1759 Goldsm. Polite Learn. ix, I have seen these harmless reptiles..ply busily about, each in request of a shell to please it. |
II. 8. Court of Request(s):
† a. A former court of record, technically forming part of the king's council, held by the Lord Privy Seal and the Masters of Requests for the relief of persons petitioning the king; also, in later use, the hall at Westminster in which the court was held.
Obs. On the origin and history of the court see Leadam
Select Cases in the Court of Requests (Selden
Soc. 1898).
| 1516 Fabyan's Chron. vi. cliii. 82 A court or counceyll,..lyke vnto the court of requestys, nowe at this day holden in Englonde. 1529 in Leadam Sel. Cases Crt. Requests (1898) Introd. 14 Hereafter folowe the names of such Counseillours as be appoynted for the heryng of power mennes causes in the Kynges courte of Requestes. 1591 Lambarde Archeion (1635) 22 The Court of Requests that specially heareth the suits of poore men, and of the Princes servants. 1640–4 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 1 The King..came Accompanied with his Nobles through Westminster-hall and the Court of Requests, to the Abbey. 1669 E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. Eng. xii. (ed. 2) 217 He [the Lord Privy Seal] is by his Place of the Kings Privy Council, and Chief Judge of the Court of Requests, when it shall be re-continued. 1680 Dryden Prol. Lee's Cæsar Borgia 23 One theatre there is of vast resort, Which whilome of Requests was called the Court. 1735 Court Mercury (title-p.), In the Passage leading from Westminster-Hall to the Court of Request. 1766 Entick London IV. 421 A kind of hall.., called the Court of Requests, used chiefly by those who attend the parliament to walk in. |
b. A local court for the recovery of small debts.
The constitution and practice of these courts varied in different localities; for the most part they have been merged in the County Court system established in 1847.
| 1603–4 Act 1 James I, c. 14 §1 The Court of Requestes comonlie called The Courte of Conscience, in the Guild Hall of the same Citie. 1707 E. Chamberlayne Pres. St. Eng. iii. x. 355 There is a Court of Request or Conscience, so call'd, because medling with nothing above 40s. value. 1749 Act 22 Geo. II, c. 47 §1 Such Commissioners are hereby constituted a Court of Justice, by the Name of The Court of Requests for the Town and Borough of Southwark. 1798 [see court n.2 11 c]. 1837 2nd Rep. Munic. Corporations Eng. & Wales 12 There are two Courts of Requests within the limits of the Corporate jurisdiction; one for London..and the other for Southwark. 1845 Act 8 & 9 Vict. c. 127 §10 Every Judge of any such Court of Requests, or Conscience..shall be removable by the Lord Chancellor for Misbehaviour or Incapacity. |
c. In India: A small-debt court composed of military officers, held in districts which are outside the jurisdiction of any ordinary court of this kind.
| 1876 Voyle Milit. Dict. 338/1 In each military cantonment a court of request is assembled monthly, and all persons are amenable to it except soldiers in the ranks. 1879 Act 42 & 43 Vict. c. 33 §142 Courts of request under this Act shall in all practicable cases consist of five officers. |
† 9. Master of (the) Request(s):
a. One of the leading officers of the Court of Requests. Hence
Mastership of Requests.
Obs.| 1553 Cal. St. Papers, Domestic (1856) 51 All such private suits as are customably brought to the King or his Council, and delivered to the Masters of Requests. 1579 Ibid. 637 Signified by letter of Mr. Sec. Wylson to the Masters of Requests. 1625 Bacon Apophth. lxxxiv. 110 Sackford, Master of the Request to Queen Elizabeth, had diuerse times moued for audience, and been put off. 1675 Lond. Gaz. No. 977/4 This day His Majesty was graciously pleased..to cause him [Thomas Povey, Esq.] to be Sworn one of the Masters of Request. 1691 Wood Prop. for Printing Ath. Oxon. 4/2 He had refused a Mastership of the Requests. 1716 M. Davies Athen. Brit. II. 316 Nothing but a great Pension for Life and a Master of Requests place, were thought encouragement enough for it. |
† b. In France: One of a number of officials forming an advisory and judicial body with a variety of functions.
Obs.| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 174 In the moneth of August, ended his lyfe at Paris William Budey, maister of the requestes. 1611 Cotgr. s.v. Requeste, Maistres des requestes, the Masters of Requests; at first there were but two,..afterwards they came to be fiue [etc.]. 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Request, In France..they have eighty masters of requests to take cognizance of causes between the officers of the crown, the servants of the houshold, &c. |
† c. In Scotland. Also
Office of Requests.
Obs.| 1561 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 159 Gif ony letter..be direct fra the Quenis Grace to the Lordis of Counsale, that the maister of Requeistis present and deliver the samyn to the Chancellar. 1582 Ibid. III. 529 To promote him to the office of Requeistis; quhairin he continewit weill neir the space of thre yeir. 1607 Ibid. XIV. Addenda 472 Mr. Peter Rollok, the Maister of Requeistis. 1633 Ibid. Ser. ii. V. 107 Sir James Galloway, Maister of Requeists. |
10. Letters of Request:
† a. A note addressed by a ruler or government to a foreign power, requesting compensation for injury done to a subject, or a proper consideration of his claims.
Obs.| 1442 Rolls of Parlt. V. 64/2 Of the whiche Wronges..satisfaction is not made; notwithstanding that divers your Letters of request have been delivered to the high Maister of Pruse,..for the reformation of the same. 1676 Molloy De Jure Marit. & Nav. i. ii. §8. 18 Nor should the Prince or State of the Person injur'd, value his misfortune at so low a rate as to deny him Letters of Request. Ibid. §11. 19 This will be no cause for Letters of Reprizal, though perhaps it may occasion Letters of Request..to have a rehearsing of the cause. 1752 Beawes Lex Mercat. Rediv. 204. |
b. Eccl. A documentary request sent by the judge of one ecclesiastical court to another,
esp. to desire that a case may be withdrawn from his own jurisdiction to that of a superior court.
| 1840 Act 3 & 4 Vict. c. 86 §13 It shall be lawful for the Bishop of the Diocese..to send the Case by Letters of Request to the Court of Appeal of the Province. 1873 R. Phillimore Eccles. Law II. 1278 It has been said that the Arches Court may take original cognizance by Letters of Request of all causes which may be brought in a Diocesan Court of the Province. Ibid. 1279 Letters of request are sometimes issued for other purposes than for sending the cause to another court. |
11. attrib. as,
request item,
request night,
request number,
request programme,
request session,
request week;
requestman Naut., a seaman who makes a written request to an officer; also
pl., applied to the occasion appointed for the presentation of such requests;
request note, a note addressed to a revenue officer requesting permission to remove excisable articles;
† request place, a place at which horses and guides might be requisitioned;
request stop, a stop at which a bus will halt only on request from a passenger or intending passenger.
| 1923 Radio Times 28 Sept. 17/1 Special *Request Items. 1972 P. Black Biggest Aspidistra i. iii. 29 The pluggers kept the initiative by inventing the request item. |
| 1916 ‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin vii. 116 ‘*Request-men an' defaulters—'shun!’ bawled the master-at-arms. 1951 H. Hastings Sea Gulls over Sorrento in J. C. Trewin Plays of Year IV. 75 You'd better write out a request... You know the routine... Requestmen is at 0900 tomorrow morning and not before! 1961 Times 27 Feb. 14/6 Shortly after breakfast C.P.O. Coleshill knocked on my cabin door and entered with his list of requestmen and defaulters. |
| 1923 Radio Times 28 Sept. 12/1 Why is it apparently not thought advisable to repeat the ‘*Request Nights’, which..are so popular? |
| 1856 Bouvier Law Dict. (ed. 6) *Request Notes. 1876 G. D. Ham Revenue Vade-m. 567 The entries for all goods, except cattle, delivered on a request note, are to be passed within three days. |
| 1971 ‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Doctor Bird iii. 37 The small coloured orchestra..suddenly broke..into a *request number for jiving. |
| 1827 G. Thompson Trav. in S. Africa (ed. 2) I. 261 After a sharp ride we reached Jakhal's-Fonteyn, the first ‘*request place’ in a district called the Winterveld. |
| 1889 Cent. Dict., *Request-program, a concert program made up of numbers the performance of which has been requested by the audience. 1955 Radio Times 22 Apr. 10/2 A request programme of records. 1976 Times 4 Aug. 12/3 On the radio, request programmes for ‘troopies’ in the operational areas aim to keep spirits high. |
| 1959 M. Shadbolt New Zealanders 76 The crackling voice of the *request-session announcer. |
| 1943 G. Greene Ministry of Fear iv. i. 223 Buses slid quickly past the *Request stops. 1955 O. Lancaster in Daily Express 25 Nov. 1/2 (caption) Five years' continuous service without once stopping at a request stop. 1973 Times 15 Oct. 17/5 Hiding behind another bus at a request stop so as to avoid seeing the uplifted hand. |
| 1928 Radio Times 7 Dec. 649/2 (heading) Children's Hour *request week... The Fourth Request Week will begin on January 7, 1929. |
▪ II. reˈquest, n.2 rare—0.
[ad. F. requête: see prec.] (See
quot., which is translated from Furetière
Dict. Univ. 1690.)
| 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v., Request, in hunting, is when the dogs have lost the quest or track of the beast, and must request, or quest it again... They say, to call to the request, come to the request, &c. |
▪ III. request, v.1 (
rɪˈkwɛst)
Also 7 as
pa. tense.
[ad. OF. requester, f. requeste: see request n.1 In the
Wars Alex. 3443
request is probably a scribal error for
reknest or
rekenest, superlative of
reken a.]
1. With
inf. To express a wish or desire
to have, hear, etc.; to ask or beg the favour or permission to be allowed
to do something.
| 1565 Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng. 181 He requested farder to haue instructions by his letters what maner of tonsure the clergy should vse. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. iii. 122 But did you not request to haue it cut? 1641 T. Hayne M. Luther 29 He requested to heare Erasmus judgement concerning Luther. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 133 [He] requested to speak with him apart. 1784 Laura & Augustus III. 117, I requested to place down my own name for two chances. 1800 H. Wells Constantia Neville (ed. 2) III. 193 To that village I requested to go. 1818 G. S. Faber Horæ Mosaicæ I. 217 He again and again requests to be excused from the ungrateful task. 1853 Cayley Las Alforjas II. 55 We had requested to sleep in the straw-loft, but our host absolutely refused. |
b. Similarly with
that or
obj. clause.
| 1611 Bible 1 Kings xix. 4 Hee requested for himselfe that hee might die. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian i, He then summoned courage enough to request he might be allowed to inquire after her health. |
2. trans. To ask, or ask for (something).
| 1594 Willobie Avisa xlvii, Let sighes and sobbes request her grace. 1635 Quarles Embl. v. xi. 285 The drooping Crests of fading Flowres Request the bounty of a morning Raine. 1654 Gataker Disc. Apol. 30 Reqesting my Readers patience and pardon, if I shal seem to detain him over-long. 1725 Pope Odyss. iv. 856 My ship equip'd within the neighb'ring port, The Prince..Requested for his speed. 1772–84 Cook's Voy. (1790) V. 1564 Captain Cook's company was requested. 1819 Shelley Cenci iv. iv. 79 Favour me, Sir,..to tell the ladies That I request their presence. 1855 Brewster Newton II. xiv. 25 Leibnitz requested farther information respecting the..discoveries. |
b. With
that or inf. clause.
| 1766 Goldsm. Vic. W. xxxii, I requested that the table might be taken away. 1832 Southey Hist. Penins. War III. 437 Requesting that he would endeavour to form a cabinet. 1850 A. Jameson Leg. Monast. Ord. 424 Ivo..requested of him to send some of the brethren of his Order to preach the Gospel in his distant..diocese. |
3. To ask (one)
to do something.
| 1533 Bellenden Livy v. xxiii. (S.T.S.) II. 227 Þe senate requeistit him to leif nocht þe public weill in trubill. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 93, I thee requeist..Me to defend from the deids of defame. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. v. 34 b, Requesting him to take the same for his lodging. 1609 W. M. Man in Moone B iv b, He..brought him to an alehouse, and request him to alight, and enter with him. 1671 Milton Samson 1630 He his guide requested..As over-tir'd to let him lean a while. 1791 Boswell Johnson an. 1738, Pope.. requested Mr. Richardson..to endeavour to find out who this new author was. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. vii, Butler requested them to open the gate. 1859 Darwin in Life & Lett. (1887) II. 170, I request you, after you have finished, just to re-run over the heads. |
| absol. 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 278 My Father placed vs all in good order, requesting eyther by questions to whette our wittes, or by stories to trye our memoryes. |
† b. With double object.
Obs. rare.
| 1563 Winȝet Four Scoir Thre Quest. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 60 Quhilk thing we requeist thee, gentill Reidar. c 1592 Marlowe Jew of Malta iii. iii, Let me request thee this; Go to the new-made nunnery. |
† c. ellipt. To ask (one) to act
against another, to come or go
to a place, etc.
Obs. rare.
| 1582 N.T. (Rhem.) Rom. xi. 2 Know you not in Elias..how he requested God against Israel? 1598 B. Jonson Ev. Man in Hum. i. iv, I was requested to supper last night. Ibid. iv. iv, I pray you, sir, let me request you to the Windmill. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. vii. 127 Pompey, goodnight. Good Brother, Let me request you of[f]. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage ix. iv. (1614) 838 He was requested to their warres against the Tapwees. |
† d. To win over by entreaty.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii. 302, I intreated them to forbeare, but they would not be requested. |
Hence
reˈquested ppl. a.,
reˈquesting vbl. n. Also
† reˈquestant, a requester.
| 1561 Preston K. Cambyses C ij b, In stead of his requested life, pleaseth Your grace take mine. 1577 Hellowes Gueuara's Chron. 51 In his commaundements hee was uerie wise, and in requesting uerie humble. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis, etc. Ps. iv. (Arb.) 132 The lord therefor, when I pray, wil harcken Too mye requesting. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 161, I dare not goe about to trouble you..without a requested pardon. 1660 New Haven Cal. Rev. (1858) II. 338 Concerning y⊇ sale of a certaine vessell..then sould by y⊇ requestants vnto one M{supr}. Rich: Raymond. 1884 Tennyson Becket ii. ii, If you, At my requesting, will but look into The wrongs you did him. 1892 Athenæum 1 Oct. 454/1 To supply the requested particulars with regard to the stops and other details. |
▪ IV. reˈquest, v.2 rare—0.
[ad. F. requêter: cf. prec. and request n.2] (See
quot.)
| 1727–38 Chambers Cycl. s.v., To request the game is chiefly used, when, after having run it down the night before, they seek it again the next morning with the bloodhound, or the like. |