Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Called forth from a latent or potential state by stimulation: Describes a response, reaction, or information that is drawn out or brought to the surface by a specific stimulus, action, or questioning. It is not spontaneous but is produced as a direct result of an external trigger.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The researcher recorded the elicited response to the auditory stimulus.
  • Her confession was elicited only after hours of careful questioning.
  • The painting elicited a strong emotional reaction from the viewers.

Advanced Usage

• In Psychology/Neuroscience: Often used to describe measurable physiological or behavioral reactions to controlled stimuli.
  • The study measured elicited brainwave patterns, known as evoked potentials.
• In Linguistics: Refers to language data obtained by prompting a speaker, as opposed to observing natural speech.
  • The linguist used pictures to gather elicited speech samples from the participants.

Variants and Related Words

• Elicit (verb): To draw out or bring forth (a response, answer, or fact) from someone.
  • The teacher tried to elicit opinions from the quiet students.
• Elicitation (noun): The act or process of eliciting.
  • The elicitation of the truth was a slow and difficult process.

Synonyms

• Evoked: Brought about or summoned, especially a mental image or reaction.
• Provoked: Stimulated or incited a reaction, often a strong or emotional one.
• Induced: Succeeded in persuading or influencing someone to do something or in causing a state.

Related Phrases

• Elicited response: A standard phrase in scientific contexts for a reaction caused by a specific stimulus.
  • The experiment's success depended on measuring the precise timing of the elicited response.
• Elicit information: A common collocation meaning to obtain information through questioning or other means.
  • The detective's primary goal was to elicit information from the witness.

Adjective

1. called forth from a latent or potential state by stimulation
   • evoked potentials
   • an elicited response