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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Supplicatio(u)n, n. Also: supplicatioune, -cioun(e, -tione, -cion(e, supplycatioun, suplicatioun(e, -ion(e, supliecatioun. [ME and e.m.E. supplicacion (1384), -cioun (Gower), suplication (1417), supplication (1555), OF supplication (c1160 in Larousse), f. as Supplicat v.]

1. The action, or an act, of supplicating; (a) humble entreaty or petition.Some examples may properly belong in 2.(1) a1538 Abell 80b.
[Queen Maud] gaif exempill of pete enens the pure till all ladeis in supplicatioun & deid 1546 Goudie Shetl. Antiq. 145.
The sayd Margret sall suple the sayd Thorrald and help and fordyr hym to service and takkis … without qhat sche may do off supplicatioun to freyndis [etc.] Arundel MS 259/6.
The quhilk sevin wordis of maist vertu … I beseik thé with supplicacioun To haue thame in mynd we may 1563 Perth B. Ct. 8b.
The said William Quhyte desyrit ane terme to call his warrandis … And desyrit suplicatioun to be direct heirupoun 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 203.
Gif thay may allege ony nullitie to have bene in the deductioun thairof [sc. the process], thay salbe alsua hard thairupoun be supplicatioun c1575 Balfour Pract. 270.
All actiounis and causis concerning the commoun weill sould be summarlie decidit be way of supplicatioun and not be lang proces(2) c1420 Wynt. v 1208 (W).
That God had herd his orisoune And at his supplicatioun [R. petityowne] Traianyis saull wes out of hell 1490 Irland Mir. I 115/26.
Fadere of mychtty powere, to this my prayere and supplicacioune, thi hie deite and maieste suld inclyn Arundel MS 284/186.
O mothir of God, in[c]lyn thy eris of piete to my supplicacionis maist vnworthy 1572–3 Reg. Privy C. II 203.
The partiis upoun thair supplicationis salbe hard to propone ony lauchfull defence that thay mycht have usit 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 410.
The lettre vnderwrittin … of the quhilk the tenour followes: Anent the ernist desyre and supplicatioun of maister James Hammiltoun [etc.] c1616 Misc. Spald. C. II lix.
The quhilk day … compeirit … George Marques of Huntlie and … reiterat the said supplicatione 1635 Dumbarton B. Rec. 48.
Johne Gilchrist … is ordained, vpoune the supplicatioun of Robert Cuthbertsoun, drumer, to pay him fyve pennies for upholding the drum 1646 Boharm Kirk S. 15 Oct.
Mr. John Ray … to be minister at Boharme, being callit therto be divers supplicationes of the people … of Boharme c1650 Spalding I 244.
The Kingis letteris brokin wp, declairing he wes now content to heir thair supplicationis

2. A written petition or request; the document containing such a petition. Also const. to do (something). Also bill and letter of supplicatioun.(1) 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 325.
Allegiand that the Lordis of Consale micht nocht retreit the sade act and decreit … because it was gevin be thame in ane uthir sessione being of the sammyn power and nocht cummand before thame be ane supplicacione as it aucht til haf done 1501 Acta Conc. III 41.
[He asked instrument] that the interlineacione [pr. interlinenacione] and cancellacioun of certane lynis of the bill contenit in the supplicatione [pr. supplincatione] was cancillit 1525 Bk. Carlaverock I 169.
We ratify … our supplicatioun send to our haly fader the Paip c1536 Lynd. Compl. Bagsche 6.
Beseikand sum, for cherite, To beir my supplicatioun, To Scudlar, Luffra, and Bawte c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis title.
Ane suplication directit frome Schir Dauid Lyndesay, knicht, to the Kingis grace in contemptioun of syde taillis 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III 47.
The said supplicatioun to be insert in thir bukis 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 411.
The day for louking of lettirs, signatouris and supplicationes presentit to his Majestie … sall … be … everie Settirday 1593 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 802.
Memorandum. To insert the supplicatioun of the Laird of Grenok quhilk is lyand in the pok 1604 Aberd. Council Lett. I 98.
To gif answer to … the supplicatione of the burgh of Culrois craving support to the repairing of thair herboure 1622-6 Bisset I 251/8.
Direct be the saidis lordis deliverance, writtin and indorsate upoun the bak of the parties supplicatioun 1636 Glasgow B. Rec. II 41.
To Johnne Nicoll … for wryteing of severall supplicatiounis to the exchequer annent our eque 1637 Dundonald Par. Rec. 427.
If ony thing sall be fund illegall … in this our supplicatioune, to change and alter the same be the advyse of skilfull lawers 1646 Glasgow B. Rec. II 107.
Suplicatioune 1652 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 66.
Suplicatioune 1677 Dunblane Synod 126.
John Mackie … being sumondit … to this present Synod for circumveining the said Catherine Wright in endyteing a false supplicacioun in her favoures(2) a1578 Pitsc. I 297.
The governour … procurit at hir broderis hand suplicatioun to the governour of Scotland to resawe hir husband 1581 St. A. Kirk S. 459.
Ane supplicatioun to be direct to the majestranis of this citee to require Jhone Robertsoun adultrar … to obey the voce of the kirk(3) 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I 31.
Thair bill of supplicatioun desyring of ws our licence consent [etc.](4) 1538–9 Treas. Acc. VII 141.
Deliverit to Archibald Hardy, messingere, for passing witht lettres of supplicatioun to the priores of Hadingtoun for the Inglis woman 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 110/11.
Your hienes … receauit my letter of humil supplication

3. To mak supplicatioun, to address or present a (written or oral) petition (to a higher authority). Variously const.(a) 1456 Hay I 4/3.
I mak ȝour hienes hertly request and supplicacioun that nathing that I sall put in this buke ye dispris na lichtly 1490 Irland Mir. I 108/2.
Merci, verite, justice and pece … ware exilit fra ws and … resauit in hevin … Mercy, to mak humyll supplicacioune, [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) xxx 26.
My brethir oft hes maid thé supplicationis, Be epistillis, sermonis, and relationis, To tak the abyte 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 879.
Traistyng in to that court to get conforte, Scho maid hir humyll supplycatioun 1533 Bell. Livy I 249/12.
The tempillis war replete with men and women makand humyll supplicatioun to thare goddis to gif pece and perdoun to thare offence c1552 Lynd. Mon. 218.
Nor ȝitt wyll I mak supplicatioun, For help, to Cleo nor Caliopee c1552 Lynd. Mon. 328.
Quhate bene (quod he) thy vocatioun, Makand sic supplycatioun? 1562 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 17.
To make supplication to the hier powers for the mansses and aikers to ministers to dwell in 1606 Crim. Trials III 366.
Being refusit of licence to haif cum and presentit my self personalie befoir ȝour hienes, to haif maid my awin supplicatioun out of my awin mowth 1660 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 14.
A meitting of the … borrowes for macking of supplicatione for ease of the grytt burdenis of Scotland(b) a1578 Pitsc. II 145/13.
To make his prayeris and supliecatiounis to allmightie God that he might gif thame ane trew and godlie consall