invoke

/ˌɪnˈvəʊk/in-VOHK

/ˌɪnˈvoʊk/in-VOHK

Meaningto call on

Common meaning: to call on for help

inin, into; (before adjectives) not
vokvoice; to callLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 2003 · scan

‘in, into’ + ‘voice’ → invoke

Journey through time

Proto-Indo-European*wak-‘cry out’source
Latinvōx, vōcis; vocō‘voice’
Frenchinvoguer
Englishinvoke‘to call on for help’ · today

in- also in: incest incite induce infamy infant

vok also in: vocal revoke provoke advocate vocation

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin vōx ‘voice; to call’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry vōx, p. 2003 · dictionary scan

Roots

vōx, vōcis; vocō Latin “voice; to call”

Related words

advocate equivocal provoke revoke vocabulary vocal vocation

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