Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
PETITION
I. noun see: feather
Date: 14th century
an earnest request ; entreaty ,
2. a formal written request made to an official person or organized body (as a court), a document embodying such a formal written request, something asked or requested, petitionary adjective
II. verb (petitioned; petitioning)
Date: 1607
transitive verb to make a request to ; solicit , intransitive verb to make a request, petitioner noun