elicit

[ih-lis-it]

verb (used with object)

1. to draw or bring out or forth; educe; evoke.

   to elicit the truth;

   to elicit a response with a question.

elicit

/ ɪˈlɪsɪt /

verb

1. to give rise to; evoke

   to elicit a sharp retort

2. to bring to light

   to elicit the truth

Other Word Forms

• elicitation noun
• elicitor noun
• elicitable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of elicit¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin ēlicitus “drawn out” (past participle of ēlicere ), equivalent to ē- “from, out of” ( e- ¹ ) + lici- “draw, lure” + -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of elicit¹

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

Example Sentences

Seeing these dead beasts suspended by their tails elicited a "gallows-like" feeling, he recounts, but not fear.

From BBC

Reporters tried at least four more times to get Sanders to answer similar questions, eliciting only a similar pantomimed response.

From Los Angeles Times

The days ahead will be peppered with captain and player news conferences, a game of cat and mouse with the media trying to elicit controversial comments that could light a blue touch paper.

From BBC

When he noted that CPB’s federal funding had been shut down by Congress and that CPB would shut its doors, the comment elicited a loud “boo” from the audience.

From Los Angeles Times

Such vaccines could induce broader immunity than whole-virus vaccines by eliciting antibody and T-cell responses that target an even wider range of flu viruses.

From Salon

Related Words

• bring out 
• evoke 
• extort 
• extract 
• obtain 
• wrest 
• wring