pĕtītor, ōris, m. [peto].
I In gen., a seeker , striver after any thing (poet.): famae, Luc. 1, 131.—
II In partic.
A Polit. t. t., an applicant or candidate for an office (very rare for candidatus; not in Cic.), Scip. Afric. ap. Macr. S. 2, 10: e petitoribus non alios adjuvare aut ad honorem pati pervenire, Suet. Caes. 23: hic generosior Descendat in campum petitor, Hor. C. 3, 1, 10.—
B Judicial t. t., a claimant , plaintiff , in private or civil suits (whereas he who prefers the complaint in a criminal case is termed accusator; class.): quis erat petitor? Fannius: quis reus? Flavius, Cic. Rosc. Com. 14, 42: petitoris personam capere, accusatoris deponere, id. Quint. 13, 45; Gai. Inst. 4, 94 et saep.—
C A suitor , wooer (post-class.), App M. 4, p. 309 Oud.; Sen. Fragm. § 39 Haas; Cod. Th. 3, 7, 1; Ambros. in Luc. 8, 70 fin. —
D In late Lat.: MILITIAE, a recruiting officer , Inscr. Grut. 531, 10; ib. Murat. 788, 7; 794, 7.