elicit

[ ih-lis-it ]

/ ɪˈlɪs ɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR elicit ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to draw or bring out or forth; educe; evoke: to elicit the truth; to elicit a response with a question.

Nearby words

eli, elia, eliade, elias, eliche, elicit, elide, elie, eliezer, eligibility, eligible

Origin of elicit

1635–45; < Latin ēlicitus drawn out (past participle of ēlicere), equivalent to ē- e-¹ + lici- draw, lure + -tus past participle suffix

Related formse·lic·i·ta·tion, noune·lic·i·tor, nounnon·e·lic·it·ed, adjectiveun·e·lic·it·ed, adjective

Can be confusedelicit illicit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for elicit

With all due respect to his athletic skill, Gronkowski is not high on the list of NFL players that elicit carnal thoughts.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When a reporter asked him a question, it would often elicit a series of Jesuitical responses.
President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion|Jonathan Alter|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One agent in particular developed a rapport with Zubaydah and managed to elicit an all-important bit of intelligence.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built|Michael Daly|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the end, it was found that students working under Protess had used false pretenses in trying to elicit witness statements.
Wrongly Imprisoned for 15 Years Thanks to an Innocence Project|Jacob Siegel|November 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Just like Watson, Ansari is daring to elicit antagonism and ignorant accusations on account of his feminist beliefs.
The Perils of Glitzy Celebrity Feminism Having a Moment|Amy Zimmerman|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I may say that, with the aid of Dr. Mahomed, I am endeavouring to utilise this process to elicit the physiognomy of disease.
Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development|Francis Galton
As a judge, he always endeavored to elicit the truth and to decide accordingly.
History of the Jews, Vol. III (of 6)|Heinrich Graetz
Failing all other clues it evidently seemed to be something to most of those present to elicit even this.
Tom, Dick and Harry|Talbot Baines Reed
These were not precisely the facts that Mr. Murphy, as solicitor for the defence, wished to elicit.
Humours of Irish Life|Various
However, they suspected his object, and he was unable to elicit what he could suppose to be the truth from them.
Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for elicit

elicit

/ (ɪˈlɪsɪt) /

verb (tr)

to give rise to; evoketo elicit a sharp retort

to bring to lightto elicit the truth

Derived Formselicitable, adjectiveelicitation, nounelicitor, noun

Word Origin for elicit

C17: from Latin ēlicere to lure forth, from licere to entice

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for elicit

elicit

1640s, from Latin elicitus, past participle of elicere "draw forth," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + -licere, comb. form of lacere "to entice, lure, deceive" (related to laqueus "noose, snare;" see lace (n.)). Related: Elicited; eliciting; elicits; elicitation.

elicit

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of elicit

Examples from the Web for elicit

British Dictionary definitions for elicit

elicit

verb (tr)

Word Origin for elicit

Word Origin and History for elicit

elicit