solicit

/sə-ˈli-sət/

Middle English, to disturb, promote, from Anglo-French solliciter, from Latin sollicitare to disturb, from sollicitus anxious, from sollus whole (from Oscan; akin to Greek holos whole) + citus, past participle of ciēre to move

verb

  1. to approach (someone) with a request or plea

  2. to make petition to : entreat

  3. to try to obtain (something) by usually urgent requests or pleas

solicited Congress for funding

ask request solicit mean to seek to obtain by making one's wants known. ask implies no more than the statement of the desire. request implies greater formality and courtesy.