Literary notes about supplicate (AI summary)
In literature, "supplicate" is employed to evoke a deep sense of urgency and humility in one's request, whether directed toward a divine power or an earthly authority. Writers use the term both in intimate, personal moments—as characters kneel in desperate vulnerability [1, 2, 3]—and in formal petitions highlighting social or political necessity [4, 5, 6]. Its usage spans the sacred and the secular, appearing in biblical instructions to pray for forgiveness [7] and in impassioned pleas that underscore the speaker’s own frailty and earnest desire for mercy [8, 9]. This layered application enriches the narrative, allowing authors to underscore themes of dependency and supplication in both private confessions and public appeals [10, 11, 12].
- But how distressful were the eyes with which he watched Pierre climb the stairs, how he seemed to supplicate him with his whole quivering form.
— from The Three Cities Trilogy: Rome, Volume 5 by Émile Zola - The affrighted woman fell upon her knees, as if already to supplicate for her life.
— from The Mysteries of London, v. 1/4 by George W. M. (George William MacArthur) Reynolds - Now she turned, and seeing him standing there, white, not daring to supplicate, she stretched out her arms to him.
— from Paths of Judgement by Anne Douglas Sedgwick - Congress could only supplicate the States for money and borrow what it might on its expectations.
— from Union and Democracy by Allen Johnson - He enjoins upon me, the city, and the encomenderos to make every endeavor and use all diligence to supplicate your Majesty for said instruction.
— from The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55 1591-1593 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century - In 1391 the city of Valencia sent to the pope Doctor Jayme de Xiva to complain {586} of Eymerich’s enormous crimes, and to supplicate his removal.
— from A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages; volume III by Henry Charles Lea - In teaching His hearers how to pray, the Savior instructed them to supplicate the Father: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."
— from The Articles of Faith A Series of Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by James E. (James Edward) Talmage - I supplicate you, I implore you on my knees--let me die, and my last sigh shall be a blessing for my preserver.”
— from The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - "Your mercy; I supplicate it," she cried in an agonised voice.
— from The False Chevalieror, The Lifeguard of Marie Antoinette by W. D. (William Douw) Lighthall - And now, O Hermit good and great, A boon of thee I supplicate.
— from The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Valmiki - And thus I supplicate your supposition, And mildest, matron-like interpretation, Of the imperial favourite's condition.
— from Don Juan by Baron George Gordon Byron Byron - Stay with me just five minutes, I supplicate you!"
— from The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
