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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
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Solistar, -o(u)r, Solicitar, -o(u)r, n. Also: solistare, -air(e, -ere, sollistar, -er, solestar, -er, sollicitar, -or. [Late ME and e.m.E. solicytour, solycitour (Lydgate), sollicitour (1460), solisitor (1503), solicitour (a1513), -or (1546), OF soliciteur, MF solliciteur (1347 and early 15th c. in Larousse), f. solliciter; Solist v.]

1. One who entreats, petitions, importunes or solicits (favours) (for himself or another); one who intercedes, or acts as advocate or agent (for another). Also (once) of Christ. Variously const. Also attrib. Passing into 3.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lvii 27.
Quod Dumbar aganis the solistaris in court 1540 Hannay College of Justice 67.
[An act anent the penalties to be imposed upon] wrangus jugis [who had been proved] plane solistaris 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 426.
Mony sayis … That sum solistars … Vincusis laweris in thare cause 1573 Cal. Sc. P. IV 578.
[We have requested your son to be our] solestar [and to report to you by mouth] 1585 Exch. R. XXI 613.
The said James, Lord of Doun, comperand be George Mak, his solistar 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 864.
If any by solistatioun or moyen … prease to entir in the said office [sc. of the ministry] … that the solister be repellit 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 114/2.
Lang trublid thairafter uith solistairis reccomending seruauntis unto me 1587-99 Hume 74/197.
Quhair iustice maist consists in sollistation, Ȝit all sollistars cannot iustice haue 1622-6 Bisset I 151/1.
Anent solisteris for calling of actionis 1643 Lothian and Tweeddale Synod 151.
His honorable solistars such as Robert Flemyng, baillie in the marqueis of Argyles name and his awne, being wearied with supplicating … the asemblie — a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 408.
Christ hath entered into heaven, there to appear before God for us, … which is, as it were, to be agent or solicitor, … in our name to answer and indicate any thing that is imputed to us(b) 1492 Douglas Chart. 132.
Be the aithis of the solistouris and vther leill curticianis(c) 1625 Acts V 176/2.
It is a grite wrong that a iudge sould scarce haif tyme gevin him in ane morneing to vse his devocioun for importunate solicitourisattrib. 1607 Inverurie B. Ct. 16 June.
And incaice ony persone mak solistatione for metigation as said is the persone solister to be poyindit(2) 1513 Doug. Comm. i v 28.
And all tymys thai war solistaris and warkkaris to rendyr Helen and to procur paice(3) 1523 St. P. Henry VIII IV 15.
Besseken your Lordship to be goode solester to my Lorde Tresorer for thame 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 239.
Thre hundreth merkis … for furnessing of procuratouris, sollistaris, and utheris doars for the saidis merchandis of Nantis of all expensissis [sic] maid in deduceing and pleying of the said caus 1567 Reg. Ministers 2.
Sollistare for the affares of the Kirk, Mr. George Makesoun, j^c lib. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 96.
Solister 1580 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) App. 192.
That the New College have ane advocatt and writtair in Edinburgh, with the said advocattis servand, or sum other, to be sollistar for thame 1594 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 45.
The actes made anent solistares for offendars 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI 33.
[Lord Spynie promises to become cautioner for Sir Walter Lindsay of Balgai] and failyeing of his entrie at the [day] foresaid, that then he sall clois his mouth, and be na forder a procuirar nor solistar for him a1651 Calderwood VII 276.
He renewed … his promises to be an earnest solister for Mr. David(4) 1533 Bell. Livy II 191/13.
The small pepill tuke purpois to continew the same tribunys that war solistaris of thare lawis 1558-66 Knox II 19.
[The] fredome … unto me peceablie to travell throucht England … had bein so rejected, that the solistaris thairof did hardlie eschaip empresement c1575 Balfour Pract. 380.
Gif ony persoun be solistar or mantenar, upon his awin expensis, of ony cause dependand betwix twa parties a1568 Bann. MS 261b/2.
The vse of court richt weill I knaw That ladeis ar solisteris of the law [Maitl. F. solistaris aw] 1588 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) App. 194.
The under collectouris, procuratouris and sollisteris of the Kirk(b) 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II 397.
Til produce the writare that wrat the sade letter … and til bring quhat persone that wil grant was sollicitar thairof at the kingis hand — 1605 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 15.
In this caus I behovit … to be ane yden solicitar of the judges(5) 1574 St. A. Kirk S. 392.
Andro Lawson repellit fra bearing of witnes becaus he is solistar in the caus 1593 Elgin Rec. II 34.
Sindrie honest men interponis thame selffis solistaris in their causis as it ver fortefearis of thair synne c1595 James VI in Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxiv.
Quhaire in other folkis bestouing I ame but a consentair or assistaire in this I ame the onlie actoure solistaire and bestouaire(6) 1678 Red Bk. Grandtully II 240.
I know yow hae been my solicitour to that effect

b. specif. An official responsible for representing the king's interests, a royal agent, or official.(a) 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 41.
Gevin to the sollistar to caus the lieutennent in Rowane to send ane servand to arrest cartis to pas to the Newhavin with the Kingis cofferis(b) 1662 Acts Sederunt ii 84.
The macers are authorized to remove all persons … who shall be found within the innermost barr … except the keeper of the minutt-book, the king's sollicitor [etc.] 1690 Misc. Maitl. C. III 172.
To our Solicitor of Pension 200 li. and for public dispatches 200 li.

c. fig. Of things. a1605 Montg. Sonn. lv 9.
My secrete sighis, solisters for my sute

2. One who solicits or attempts to procure (a desired result); one who solicits, incites or provokes (a person) (to do something).Const. of a desired result, also of a person to or to do (something).(1) 1572 Bann. Trans. 475.
He was the cheif procurare, solistere, and setter fordwart of my pretendit forfaltoure(2) 1533 Bell. Livy II 126/14.
I fynd the hous of Icelianus war solistaris of the small pepil to sa fre suffrage(b) 1533 Boece 630.
Euphame … was ane gret solistor of him to attempt sic busines againis the king(c) 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 25.
Slayaris of his father and sollicitars of strangearis to seik his innocent blude

3. specif. An accredited legal representative, law agent or attorney.It is difficult to say precisely when the role of unofficial petitioner on another's behalf developed into something approaching the modern solicitor, hence a certain degree of ambiguity between these three senses.(a) 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 655.
To command and charge all and sindrie the Lordis of his Hienes Counsale and Sessioun … all advocattis, scribis, sollistaris, herauldis, maseris [etc.] 1622-6 Bisset I 267/17.
Delyver the copie of the letteris to the thesawrare or his solister for him in his office(b) a1650 Row 114.
That the Kirk … shall have tuo dayes in the week in the Session for calling of their actions and suits of law; and James Mowat shalbe their solicitor 1687 Acts Sederunt ii 178.
The Lords ordains all summonds of improbation [etc.] … which requires the concourse of his Majestie's Advocat and have been raised blank or in the name of the solicitors, to be tabled in common form