Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - request

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English ~e, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *requaesta, from feminine of requaestus, past participle of requaerere to require  Date: 14th century  1. the act or an instance of asking for something  2. something asked for granted her ~  3. the condition or fact of being ~ed available on ~  4. the state of being sought after ; demand  II. transitive verb  Date: 1533  1. to make a ~ to or of ~ed her to write a paper  2. to ask as a favor or privilege ~s to be excused  3. obsolete to ask (a person) to come or go to a thing or place  4. to ask for ~ed a brief delay  Synonyms: see ask  • ~er or ~or noun