definitions

elicit

[ ih-lis-it ]
/ ɪˈlɪs ɪt /
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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.

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RELATED WORDS

extort, wrest, wring, obtain, evoke, extract, evolve, derive, rattle, exact, bite, milk, fetch, bring, evince, shake, squeeze, cause, educe, badger

Nearby words

eli, elia, eliade, elias, eliche, elicit, elide, eligible, eligible paper, elihu, elijah

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 forms

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

Can be confused

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

Examples from the Web for elicit

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 Forms

elicitable, 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