invoke - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: invoke

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

in·voke

Audio Help [in-vohk] Pronunciation Key

–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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

in·voke Audio Help (ĭn-vōk') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. in·voked, in·vok·ing, in·vokes

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).
To appeal to or cite in support or justification.
To call for earnestly; solicit: invoked the help of a passing motorist.
To summon with incantations; conjure.
To resort to; use or apply: "Shamelessly, he invokes coincidence to achieve ironic effect" (Newsweek).
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 wek^w- in Indo-European roots.]

in·vok'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

invoke
verb
1.	summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic; "raise the specter of unemployment"; "he conjured wild birds in the air"; "call down the spirits from the mountain"
2.	cite as an authority; resort to; "He invoked the law that would save him"; "I appealed to the law of 1900"; "She invoked an ancient law"
3.	request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection; "appeal to somebody for help"; "Invoke God in times of trouble" [syn: appeal]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
invoke [inˈvəuk] verb

to appeal to (some power, eg God, the law etc) for help etc

Arabic:	يَتَوَسَّل، يَتَضَرَّع إلى
Chinese (Simplified):	祈求
Chinese (Traditional):	祈求
Czech:	dovolávat se
Danish:	påkalde
Dutch:	een beroep doen op
Estonian:	anuma
Finnish:	vedota, kutsua avuksi
French:	invoquer
German:	anrufen
Greek:	επικαλούμαι
Hungarian:	segítségül hív
Icelandic:	ákalla
Indonesian:	memohon
Italian:	invocare

Japanese:	祈願する
Korean:	(원조 등을) 간청하다
Latvian:	piesaukt; lūgt (palīdzību)
Lithuanian:	šauktis, *melsti pagalbos
Norwegian:	påkalle; påberope seg
Polish:	odwoływać się do, wzywać
Portuguese (Brazil):	invocar
Portuguese (Portugal):	invocar
Romanian:	a invoca
Russian:	призывать
Slovak:	vzývať; dovolávať sa; uplatniť
Slovenian:	rotiti
Spanish:	invocar
Swedish:	åkalla
Turkish:	yalvarmak, niyaz etmek, imdat dilemek

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Invoke

In"vo*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invocated; p. pr. & vb. n. Invocating.] [L. invocatus, p. p. of invocare. See Invoke.] To invoke; to call on, or for, in supplication; to implore.

If Dagon be thy god, Go to his temple, invocate his aid. --Milton.

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