supplicō

1. Rogare and orare denote simply a request as the quiet utterance of a wish; but the rogans (ὀργᾶν, ὀρέγεσθαι) feels himself al pari, on a par with the person whom he asks, and asks only a courtesy, like αἰτεῖν; the orans acknowledges the superiority of the other, and asks a benefit, like δεῖσθαι; whereas obsecrare and obtestari denote a passionate asking, as to conjure; but the obsecrans asks urgently, like λιπαρεῖν; the obtestans (from θέσσασθαι) in a suppliant manner. Cic. Att. xvi. 10. Igitur, mi Plance, rogo te atque etiam oro. Pseudocic. p. Red. 16. Pro mea vos salute non rogavit solum, verum etiam obsecravit. 2. Precari denotes the calm act of prayer, in which one raises one’s hand to heaven, like εύχεσθαι; but supplicare denotes the passionate act of supplication, in which one throws one’s self on one’s knees, or on the ground, and wrings one’s hands, like ἱκετεύειν. By hyperbole, however, precor denotes any urgent request; supplicare, any humble request, addressed to a human being. Cic. Parad. v. 3. Noctu venire domum ad eum, precari, denique supplicare. (v. 232.)