petitionary

petitionary — adjective

  • petitionarypositive
  • more petitionarycomparative
  • most petitionarysuperlative

1. connected with a formal request that asks a person or institution in power to ta

1.形容詞C2
釋義

connected with a formal request that asks a person or institution in power to take action

例句

Theo sent a petitionary letter to the landlord after the rent increase.

petitionary letter

The bishop read a petitionary prayer for rain during the service.

petitionary prayer

同義詞
  • supplicatory

    more emotional and humble, especially in religious or literary contexts

  • pleading

    more personal and less suited to official or legal wording

  • entreating

    more emotional and personal; 'petitionary' can stay tied to formal requests or prayers

反義詞
  • declarative

    states something rather than asking for action

  • commanding

    gives orders instead of making a formal request

文法句型

petitionary letter

petitionary prayer

petitionary language

用法筆記

Usually modifies nouns such as letter, prayer, language, or document. It is mainly seen in legal, political, or religious writing rather than everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌The newspaper described a petitionary crowd outside city hall.
✅The newspaper described a petitioning crowd outside city hall.
💡'petitionary' usually describes the request, its wording, or its document, not the people themselves.
❌The school sent a petitionary email about the holiday schedule.
✅The school sent a formal email about the holiday schedule.
💡this word fits messages that ask for action from someone in authority, not ordinary notices.

2. showing the manner of someone who is humbly asking for help, mercy, or permissio

2.形容詞C2
釋義

showing the manner of someone who is humbly asking for help, mercy, or permission

例句

Omar gave the dean a petitionary look before asking for more time.

petitionary look

At the shrine, Nadia waited in a petitionary pose beside the candles.

petitionary pose

同義詞
  • pleading

    the everyday choice with a similar meaning

  • imploring

    suggests stronger emotional pressure in the request

  • beseeching

    very formal and close in tone to 'petitionary'

反義詞
  • commanding

    shows authority instead of dependence

  • defiant

    resists power rather than appealing to it

文法句型

petitionary look

petitionary tone

petitionary gesture

用法筆記

Usually describes a look, tone, gesture, or posture rather than standing alone after a linking verb. In most everyday contexts, speakers would more naturally choose 'pleading' or 'begging'.

常見錯誤

❌The guard stood petitionary at the gate.
✅The guard stood at the gate with a pleading expression.
💡'petitionary' is usually placed before a noun such as 'look', 'tone', or 'gesture'.
❌The clerk gave a petitionary report to the manager.
✅The clerk gave the manager a pleading explanation.
💡this sense is about a begging attitude, not any formal piece of writing.