Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who makes a humble or earnest plea to someone in authority or power, or to a deity. A supplicant asks for something, such as a favor, mercy, or help, often from a position of humility or need.
   • In a religious context, a supplicant is someone who prays humbly to God or a god.

2. Adjective:

   • Characterized by or expressing humble and earnest pleading. A supplicant gesture or tone is one of entreaty.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The king listened to the supplicants who came to the court seeking aid.
  • In the temple, the supplicant knelt and prayed for guidance.
  • She was a supplicant for a position in the prestigious firm.

• Adjective:

  • He approached with a supplicant attitude, hoping for forgiveness.
  • She gave him a supplicant look, silently asking for his help.

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a distinct power dynamic, where the supplicant is in a subordinate or dependent position relative to the person or entity being petitioned.
• It can be used formally or literarily to describe someone making a serious, heartfelt request.

Variants and Related Words

• Supplicate (verb): To make a humble plea or earnest request.
  • They came to supplicate the governor for clemency.
• Supplication (noun): The act of supplicating; a humble prayer or entreaty.
  • His letter was a supplication for understanding.

Synonyms

• Petitioner: One who presents a formal, written petition.
• Suitor: One who courts a woman or seeks something (archaic in the general sense of petitioner).
• Beseecher: One who asks earnestly or urgently.
• Applicant: One who applies for something, such as a job (less connotative of humility).

Related Phrases

• To come as a supplicant: To approach someone in a humble manner to ask for something.
  • He was forced to come as a supplicant to his former rival.
• In a supplicant manner: Behaving or speaking with humble entreaty.
  • She spoke in a supplicant manner, hoping to sway their decision.

Adjective

1. humbly entreating
   • a suppliant sinner seeking forgiveness

Noun

1. one praying humbly for something
   • a suppliant for her favors
2. someone who prays to God