intercession
Speaking on behalf
Intercession is the act of intervening on someone else's behalf, typically by pleading or petitioning a higher authority.
The word carries religious connotations—prayers of intercession ask God to help others, and saints are believed to intercede for the faithful.
In secular contexts, intercession suggests diplomatic intervention: Her intercession with the governor saved his job.
The intercessor acts as intermediary between the person in need and the power that can help.
Humble plea for help
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- petitionFormal written appeal
- entreatyEarnest, urgent request
- pleaFormal request or defense
mediation · advocacy · blessing · novena · orison · litany · rosary · devotion
Advocating to decision-makers
- representationDepiction or likeness
- championingVigorously supporting a cause
- pleadingUrgent heartfelt request
- supportTo uphold or sustain
defender · ally · backing · voice · protector · sponsor · appeal · petition
Non-court binding dispute resolution
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- facilitationMaking tasks easier
- go-betweenAgent connecting separate parties
liaison · intermediary · broker · peacemaker · reconciliation · dialogue · dispute resolution · third party
Official foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- embassyOfficial diplomatic residence abroad
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- treatyBinding pact between nations
delegation · summit · accord · diplomatic · liaison · backchannel · rapprochement · détente
Holy figure guarding devotees
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- hagiographyIdealized biographical writing
- canonizationOfficial declaration of sainthood
- beatificationDeclaring someone among blessed
relic · martyr · miracle · shrines · pilgrimage · holy · sacred · sanctity
supplication
Humble plea for help
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- petitionFormal written appeal
- entreatyEarnest, urgent request
plea · mediation · advocacy · blessing · novena · orison · litany · rosary · devotion · piety
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- representationDepiction or likeness
- championingVigorously supporting a cause
- pleadingUrgent heartfelt request
support · defender · ally · backing · voice · protector · sponsor · appeal · petition · entreaty
arbitration
Non-court binding dispute resolution
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- facilitationMaking tasks easier
go-between · liaison · intermediary · broker · peacemaker · reconciliation · dialogue · dispute resolution · third party · neutral party
ambassador
Official foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- embassyOfficial diplomatic residence abroad
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
treaty · delegation · summit · accord · diplomatic · liaison · backchannel · rapprochement · détente · emissary
patron saint
Holy figure guarding devotees
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- hagiographyIdealized biographical writing
- canonizationOfficial declaration of sainthood
beatification · relic · martyr · miracle · shrines · pilgrimage · holy · sacred · sanctity · hallowed
- Islamic afterlifehereafter, reckoning, scales of justice, heaven and hell, eternal life
- afterlifeheaven, hell, paradise, purgatory, limbo
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- school calendaracademic calendar, semester, trimester, quarter, fall semester
- worshippraying, congregational prayer, adoration, praise God, evening prayer
- pleasplea, pleas, please, prayers, entreaty
intercessionaccusation
Claim someone did wrong
condemnation · prosecution · denunciation · indictment · opposition
intercessionprovocation
Act that triggers response
aggravation · instigation · incitement · exacerbation · inflammation
- divine intercessionGod acting in events