Request (r-kwst), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Requested; p. pr. & vb. n. Requesting.]
Etymology: [Cf. OF. requester, F. requêter.]
1. To ask for (something); to express desire ffor; to solicit; as, to request his presence, or a favor.
2. To address with a request; to ask. I request you To give my poor host freedom. Shak.
Syn. -- To ask; solicit; entreat; beseech. See Beg.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Request (r-kwst), n.
1. The act of asking for anything desired; expression of desire or demand; solicitation; prayer; petition; entreaty. I will marry her, sir, at your request. Shak.
2. That which is asked for or requested. "He gave them their request." Ps. cvi. 15. I will both hear and grant you your requests. Shak.
3. A state of being desired or held in such estimation as to be sought after or asked for; demand. Knowledge and fame were in as great request as wealth among us now. Sir W. Temple. Court of Requests. (a) A local tribunal, sometimes called Court of Consience, founded by act of Parliament to facilitate the recovery of small debts from any inhabitant or trader in the district defined by the act; -- now mostly abolished. (b) A court of equity for the relief of such persons as addressed the sovereign by supplication; -- now abolished. It was inferior to the Court of Chancery. [Eng.] Brande & C.
Syn. -- Asking; solicitation; petition; prayer; supplication; entreaty; suit.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for request; he lists it under ask, pray.
Where he writes about it:
Crave and request are somewhat formal terms; crave has almost disappeared from conversation; request would seem distant between parent and child. — from ask
To pray, in the religious sense, is devoutly to address the Supreme Being with reverent petition for divine grace or any favor or blessing, and in the fullest sense with thanksgiving and praise for the divine goodness and mercy; the once common use of the word to express any earnest request, as "I pray you to come in," is now rare, unless in writings molded on older literature, or in certain phrases, as "Pray sit down;" even in these "please" is more common; "I beg you" is also frequently used, as expressing a polite humility of request. — from pray