a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling.
2.
a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.
3.
a divine call to God's service or to the Christian life.
4.
a function or station in life to which one is called by God: the religious vocation; the vocation of marriage.
[Origin: 1400–50; late ME vocacio(u)n < L vocātiōn- (s. of vocātiō) a call, summons, equiv. to vocāt(us) ptp. of vocāre to call (see -ate1) + -iōn--ion]
A regular occupation, especially one for which a person is particularly suited or qualified.
An inclination, as if in response to a summons, to undertake a certain kind of work, especially a religious career; a calling.
[Middle English vocacioun, divine call to a religious life, from Old French vocation, from Latin vocātiō, vocātiōn-, a calling, from vocātus, past participle of vocāre, to call; see wekw- in Indo-European roots.]
1426, "spiritual calling," from L. vocationem (nom. vocatio), lit. "a calling," from vocatus "called," pp. of vocare "to call" (see voice). Sense of "one's occupation or profession" is first attested 1553.
Vo*ca"tion\, n. [L. vocatio a bidding, invitation, fr. vocare to call, fr. vox, vocis, voice: cf. F. vocation. See Vocal.]1. A call; a summons; a citation; especially, a designation or appointment to a particular state, business, or profession. What can be urged for them who not having the vocation of poverty to scribble, out of mere wantonness make themselves ridiculous? --Dryden. 2. Destined or appropriate employment; calling; occupation; trade; business; profession. He would think his service greatly rewarded, if he might obtain by that means to live in the sight of his prince, and yet practice his own chosen vocation. --Sir. P. Sidney. 3. (Theol.) A calling by the will of God. Specifically: (a) The bestowment of God's distinguishing grace upon a person or nation, by which that person or nation is put in the way of salvation; as, the vocation of the Jews under the old dispensation, and of the Gentiles under the gospel. "The golden chain of vocation, election, and justification." --Jer. Taylor. (b) A call to special religious work, as to the ministry. Every member of the same [the Church], in his vocation and ministry. --Bk. of Com. Prayer.
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