supplicate
Meaning: To make a humble, earnest plea or request, especially to someone in a position of power or to a deity.
Supplicate implies a degree of desperation and humility beyond ordinary asking. It carries strong connotations of kneeling, begging, or appealing to mercy. The word appears frequently in religious contexts and historical writing, and when used in secular settings, it often carries an ironic or dramatic edge, suggesting that the person is debasing themselves.
Examples
- The condemned man supplicated the king for clemency in a letter written from his cell. 那个被判刑的人在狱中写信向国王恳求宽恕。El condenado suplicó clemencia al rey en una carta escrita desde su celda.死刑囚は独房から手紙を書き、国王に恩赦を嘆願した。사형수는 감방에서 편지를 써서 국왕에게 관용을 탄원했다.
- Communities affected by the drought supplicated the government for emergency relief funds. 遭受旱灾的社区恳请政府提供紧急救济资金。Las comunidades afectadas por la sequía suplicaron al gobierno fondos de auxilio urgente.干ばつの被害を受けた地域社会は、政府に緊急救援資金を懇願した。가뭄 피해를 입은 지역 사회들은 정부에 긴급 구호 자금을 간청했다.
- She refused to supplicate; if they would not offer the position willingly, she would look elsewhere. 她拒绝卑躬屈膝地恳求——如果他们不愿意主动提供这个职位,她就另寻他处。Se negó a suplicar: si no le ofrecían el puesto voluntariamente, buscaría en otro sitio.彼女は嘆願することを拒んだ——もし自ら進んでその職を提示してくれないのなら、他を当たるつもりだった。그녀는 애원하기를 거부했다—만약 그들이 자발적으로 그 자리를 제안하지 않는다면, 다른 곳을 알아볼 생각이었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: literary, religious, academic
Tone: earnest
Origin & History
From Latin supplicare meaning to kneel down, from sub (under) and plicare (to fold). The root image is of folding oneself beneath another in humble petition. Entered English in the 15th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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