petition vs solicit

petition

verb
  • To make a request to, commonly in written form. 

noun
  • A compilation of signatures built in order to exert moral authority in support of a specific cause. 

  • A formal written request for judicial action. 

  • A prayer; a supplication; an entreaty. 

  • A formal, written request made to an official person or organized body, often containing many signatures. 

solicit

verb
  • To make a petition. 

  • To urge the claims of; to plead; to act as solicitor for or with reference to. 

  • To offer to perform sexual activity, especially when for a payment. 

  • To persuade or incite one to commit some act, especially illegal or sexual behavior. 

  • To woo; to court. 

  • To persistently endeavor to obtain an object, or bring about an event. 

  • If you want to lose your virginity, you should try to solicit some fine looking women. 

How often have the words petition and solicit occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )