solicitA

Solicita is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb solicitar, meaning to request something formally or to apply for something. It is used with he/she/it as the subject or with the polite form usted: for example, Ella solicita una beca, o Usted solicita permisos. In Portuguese, the verb solicitar also uses a form solicita for the third-person singular present, with a similar meaning.

Etymology and cognates: solicitar comes from Latin sollicitare, through Old French solliciter, and into Spanish and Portuguese with the sense of urging, asking, or requesting. The root solicit- carries the idea of seeking or demanding in a formal context.

Usage and context: solicit a document, information, permission, or a position is common in administrative, legal, academic, and business language. The verb is typical in formal writing and official communication: La empresa solicita informes; El solicitante debe presentar la documentación requerida. Related nouns include solicitud (the act or document of requesting) and solicitante (applicant). The passive or passive-like forms, such as ser solicitado, may be used to indicate something has been requested or is being sought.

Alternatives and nuances: in less formal contexts, verbs like pedir or exigir can be used, depending on tone and urgency. Although similar in meaning across Spanish and Portuguese, each language uses its own conjugation patterns and, in some regions, slight preference for one term over another in everyday speech.

See also: solicitar, solicitud, solicitante, pedir.