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invoke

 - 4 dictionary results

in⋅voke

  [in-vohk]
Use invoke in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -voked, -vok⋅ing.
1. to call for with earnest desire; make supplication or pray for: to invoke God's mercy.
2. to call on (a deity, Muse, etc.), as in prayer or supplication.
3. to declare to be binding or in effect: to invoke the law; to invoke a veto.
4. to appeal to, as for confirmation.
5. to petition or call on for help or aid.
6. to call forth or upon (a spirit) by incantation.
7. to cause, call forth, or bring about.
Origin:
1480–90; < L invocāre, equiv. to in- in- 2 + vocāre to call, akin to vōx voice

Related forms:
in⋅vo⋅ca⋅ble, adjective
in⋅vok⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To invoke
in·voke   (ĭn-vōk')   
tr.v.   in·voked, in·vok·ing, in·vokes

  1. To call on (a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration: "Stretching out her hands she had the air of a Greek woman who invoked a deity" (Ford Madox Ford).

  2. To appeal to or cite in support or justification.

  3. To call for earnestly; solicit: invoked the help of a passing motorist.

  4. To summon with incantations; conjure.

  5. To resort to; use or apply: "Shamelessly, he invokes coincidence to achieve ironic effect" (Newsweek).

  6. Computer Science To activate or start (a program, for example).


[Middle English envoken, from Old French invoquer, from Latin invocāre : in-, in; see in-2 + vocāre, to call; see wekw- in Indo-European roots.]
in·vok'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

invoke 
1490, from M.Fr. envoquer (12c.), from L. invocare "call upon, implore," from in- "upon" + vocare "to call," related to vox (gen. vocis) "voice" (see voice).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: in·voke
Pronunciation: in-'vOk
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: in·voked; in·vok·ing
1 : to appeal to as furnishing authority or motive
2 : to put into legal effect or call for the observance of : ENFORCE <invoking his Fifth Amendment privilege>
3 : to introduce or put into operation <invoking economic sanctions>
4 : to be the cause of invoked the final hardship —U.S. Code>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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