invocation

[ in-vuh-key-shuh n ]

/ ˌɪn vəˈkeɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR invocation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of invoking or calling upon a deity, spirit, etc., for aid, protection, inspiration, or the like; supplication.

any petitioning or supplication for help or aid.

a form of prayer invoking God's presence, especially one said at the beginning of a religious service or public ceremony.

an entreaty for aid and guidance from a Muse, deity, etc., at the beginning of an epic or epiclike poem.

the act of calling upon a spirit by incantation.

the magic formula used to conjure up a spirit; incantation.

the act of calling upon or referring to something, as a concept or document, for support and justification in a particular circumstance.

the enforcing or use of a legal or moral precept or right.

Nearby words

invitatory, invite, invitee, inviting, invocate, invocation, invocative, invoice, invoke, involucel, involucrate

Origin of invocation

1325–75; Middle English invocacio(u)n < Latin invocātiōn- (stem of invocātiō). See invocate, -ion

Related formsin·voc·a·to·ry

[in-vok-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ɪnˈvɒk əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivepre·in·vo·ca·tion, noun

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

Examples from the Web for invocation

Feminists should be concerned about the invocation of traditional roles.
Intersexuality and God Through the Ages|Candida Moss|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was asked by then President-elect Obama to deliver the invocation at the opening inaugural event.
How to Pray in the Public Square|Gene Robinson|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When science was young, the invocation of miracles was commonplace.
Should Scientists Believe in Miracles?|Karl W. Giberson|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This “promiscuous” invocation of religious freedom would deny equal rights to those with different religious convictions—or none.
How ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Hurting Everyone’s Freedom|Robert Shrum|March 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But the Obamacare invocation is one I think they may really come to regret by next November.
Beware, Republicans: HealthCare.gov Will Rise Again|Michael Tomasky|November 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It was his own, strange "Invocation to Death" to which his half-numbed fingers turned.
The Genius|Margaret Horton Potter
Montesquieu had placed an invocation to the muses in the middle of the "Esprit des Lois."
The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6)|Hippolyte A. Taine
Two famous passages.The poem opens with an invocation to Venus, which is justly famous.
A History of Roman Literature|Harold North Fowler
So that a great part of the town seemed some strong chorus of invocation to new possessions.
Christmas|Zona Gale
The Invocation puts all its stress upon Ulysses and his attempt to save his companions.
Homer's Odyssey|Denton J. Snider

British Dictionary definitions for invocation

invocation

/ (ˌɪnvəˈkeɪʃən) /

noun

the act of invoking or calling upon some agent for assistance

a prayer asking God for help, forgiveness, etc, esp as part of a religious service

an appeal for inspiration and guidance from a Muse or deity at the beginning of a poem

the act of summoning a spirit or demon from another world by ritual incantation or magic
the incantation used in this act

Derived Formsinvocational, adjectiveinvocatory (ɪnˈvɒkətərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

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 invocation

invocation

late 14c., "petition (to God or a god) for aid or comfort; invocation, prayer;" also "a summoning of evil spirits," from Old French invocacion (12c.), from Latin invocationem (nominative invocatio), noun of action from past participle stem of invocare "to call upon, invoke, appeal to" (see invoke).

invocation

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of invocation

Examples from the Web for invocation

British Dictionary definitions for invocation

invocation

noun

Word Origin and History for invocation

invocation