solicitor
UK: səˈlɪs.ɪ.tər | US: səˈlɪs.ɪ.t̬ɚ
n. a legal professional who advises clients, prepares legal documents, and represents them in lower courts (primarily in UK/commonwealth systems).
n. (archaic) someone who persistently requests or petitions.
solicitor = solicit<to ask persistently> + or<agent noun suffix>
- solicit (from Latin sollicitāre <to disturb, urge>, from sollicitus <agitated>, combining sollus <whole> + ciēre <to set in motion>)
- or (agentive suffix indicating a person who performs an action, e.g., "actor," "creator")
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin sollicitāre, reflecting agitation or persistent urging. In medieval Latin, it evolved to mean "manage affairs," later narrowing in English to legal contexts (16th century). The suffix -or marks the professional role, distinguishing it from verbs like "solicit."
The solicitor drafted the contract for the property sale.
She consulted a solicitor to resolve the inheritance dispute.
In England, solicitors often handle cases before barristers argue them in higher courts.
The charity hired a solicitor to ensure compliance with regulations.
(Archaic) The solicitor at the gate pleaded for alms.