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o ask from; to solicit; to entreat; especially, to make a formal written supplication, or application to, as to any branch of the government; as, to petition the court; to petition the governor. You have . . . petitioned all the gods for my prosperity. Shak.

The application of light for therapeutic purposes, esp. for treating diseases of the skin. -- Pho`to*the*rap"ic (#), Pho`to*ther`a*peu"tic (#), a.

A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine.

o put a rod in pickle, to prepare a particular reproof, punishment, or penalty for future application.

An external application of a consistency harder than ointment, prepared for use by spreading it on linen, leather, silk, or other material. It is adhesive at the ordinary temperature of the body, and is used, according to its composition, to produce a medicinal effect, to bind parts together, etc.; as, a porous plaster…

To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression or application to; as, to play upon words.

ch many branches of art and science are taught with especial reference to their practical application; also to exhibitions of machinery and industrial products.

Hence, in very various applications:

Contrived, done, or existing subsequently. "Postliminious after applications of them to their purposes." South.

Capable of being effected or accomplished by the application of power; possible. [R.] J. Young.

Actual performance; application of knowledge; -- opposed to theory. There are two functions of the soul, -- contemplation and practice. South. There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and practice; each, to a certain extent, supposes the other; theory is dependent on practice; practice must have preced…

lify for a particular purpose or condition; to make ready; to put into a state for use or application; as, to prepare ground for seed; to prepare a lesson. Our souls, not yet prepared for upper light. Dryden.

ate of being prior or antecedent in time, or of preceding something else; as, priority of application.

The application of a lever to move any weighty body, as a cask, anchor, cannon, car, etc. See Prize, n., 5.

To have application or effect; to operate. This rule only proceeds and takes place when a person can not of common law condemn another by his sentence. Ayliffe.

That which is produced, yielded, or made, whether naturally, or by the application of intelligence and labor; as, the productions of the earth; the productions of handicraft; the productions of intellect or genius.

The application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation, or to denote the result, of the action of the verb; as, to strike one dumb.

The act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation. Providence for war is the best prevention of it. Bacon.

The application of the healing art to mental diseases. Dunglison.

ds which have the same sound but different meanings; an expression in which two different applications of a word present an odd or ludicrous idea; a kind of quibble or equivocation. Addison. A better put on this word was made on the Beggar's Opera, which, it was said, made Gay rich, and Rich gay. Walpole.…