elicit

[ih-lis-it]

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.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for eliciting

Contemporary Examples

But the director is actually more interested in eliciting cheap laughs than in extended social commentary.
Cannes Diary: Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Only God Forgives’ and Alexander Payne’s ‘Nebraska’
Richard Porton
May 24, 2013
Couric, armed with her blue cards, excels at eliciting information, but not at taking center stage.
Katie Couric’s Daytime TV Debut Makes Her America’s New Girlfriend
Howard Kurtz
September 11, 2012
“It would be considered,” she says tartly, eliciting a laugh from her husband.
The Texas Drought Seen Firsthand from the Eyes of Ranchers
Malcolm Jones
August 9, 2012
“Welcome to Zintan,” he said with an ironic smile, eliciting a chuckle from his captors and from me.
In His First Interview, Saif al-Islam Says He Has Not Been Given Access to a Lawyer
Fred Abrahams
December 30, 2011

Historical Examples

What was the secret of her power in eliciting this outside testimony?
Gathering Jewels
James Knowles and Matilda Darroch Knowles
Another was eliciting facts that our hero most desired to have made clear.
A Successful Shadow
Harlan Page Halsey
Osmond possessed in a supreme degree the art of eliciting any weakness.
The Portrait of a Lady
Henry James
Displayed great coolness and exemplary behavior, eliciting the applause of his officers and the gun's crew.
Record of Medals of Honor issued to the officers and enlisted men of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, 1862-1923
U.S. Bureau of Naval Personnel
The small noise had the effect of eliciting another word from Sam.
One of My Sons
Anna Katharine Green

British Dictionary definitions for eliciting

elicit

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

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 eliciting

elicit

v.

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

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}elicit

Related Words

Examples from the Web for eliciting

Contemporary Examples

But the director is actually more interested in eliciting cheap laughs than in extended social commentary.

Couric, armed with her blue cards, excels at eliciting information, but not at taking center stage.

“It would be considered,” she says tartly, eliciting a laugh from her husband.

“Welcome to Zintan,” he said with an ironic smile, eliciting a chuckle from his captors and from me.

Historical Examples

What was the secret of her power in eliciting this outside testimony?

Another was eliciting facts that our hero most desired to have made clear.

Osmond possessed in a supreme degree the art of eliciting any weakness.

Displayed great coolness and exemplary behavior, eliciting the applause of his officers and the gun's crew.

The small noise had the effect of eliciting another word from Sam.

elicit

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for eliciting

elicit

v.

Origin of elicit