An asking that may be refused. A request differs from a demand by leaving the answer open.
Old French requeste, from Latin requirere/requaerere (to seek again, to ask for): re- (again) + quaerere (to seek, to ask); a request is an asking that leaves room for refusal, unlike a demand, which the root does not.
An asking that may be refused. The root's seeking never guaranteed an answer, which is exactly what separates a request from a demand.