invocation

[ in-vuh-key-shuh n ]

/ ˌɪn vəˈkeɪ ʃən /

SEE 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.

Origin of invocation

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

OTHER WORDS FROM invocation

in·voc·a·to·ry

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

Words nearby invocation

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

Example sentences 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 forms of invocation

invocational, adjective invocatory (ɪnˈvɒkətərɪ, -trɪ), adjective

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

invocation

noun

Origin of invocation

OTHER WORDS FROM invocation

Words nearby invocation

Example sentences from the Web for invocation

British Dictionary definitions for invocation

noun

Derived forms of invocation

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

invocation

noun

Origin of invocation

OTHER WORDS FROM invocation

Words nearby invocation

Words related to invocation

Example sentences from the Web for invocation

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noun

Derived forms of invocation

British Dictionary definitions for invocation