Requests put with an attempt at jocularity (10)
I believe the answer is:
pleasantry
'jocularity' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'requests put with an attempt' is the wordplay.
'requests' becomes 'pleas' (plea is a kind of request**).
'put' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'attempt' becomes 'try' (I've seen this before).
'pleas'+'an'+'try'='PLEASANTRY'
'at' is the link.
(Other definitions for pleasantry that I've seen before include "An agreeable remark" , "Slightly amusing remark" , "Joke, banter" , "Sally" , "Quip" .)