Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of appealing for help: The action of earnestly requesting assistance, often from a higher power or authority.
   • The act of calling up a spirit or devil: The ritualistic act of summoning a supernatural entity.
   • An incantation used in conjuring or summoning a devil: The specific words or formula spoken to summon a spirit or demon.
   • A prayer asking God's help as part of a religious service: A formal prayer, often at the beginning of a ceremony, that calls upon divine assistance or presence.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The priest's invocation for peace moved the congregation.
  • The ancient ritual involved the invocation of ancestral spirits.
  • The magician recited a dark invocation from the old book.
  • The service began with an invocation to the Almighty.

Advanced Usage

• "Invocation of the Muse": A literary convention, especially in epic poetry, where the poet calls upon a muse for inspiration.
  • The poem's opening lines contain an invocation of the Muse of epic poetry.
• "Invocation of a precedent": In law, the act of citing a previous case or ruling as an authoritative example.
  • The lawyer's argument relied heavily on the invocation of a key Supreme Court decision.

Variants and Related Words

• Invoke (verb): To call upon (a deity, spirit, or principle) in prayer or as a source of authority; to cite or appeal to.
  • The shaman will invoke the spirits of the forest.
  • She invoked her right to remain silent.
• Invocatory (adjective): Having the nature of or used for invocation.
  • The ceremony included invocatory hymns.

Synonyms

• Supplication: The action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.
• Conjuration: A magic incantation or spell; the act of summoning a spirit.
• Entreaty: An earnest or humble request.

Related Phrases

• "Invocation of the Fifth Amendment": The act of citing one's right under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to refuse to answer questions in order to avoid self-incrimination.
  • The witness, fearing perjury charges, made an invocation of the Fifth Amendment.

Related Idioms

• "By invocation of": By calling upon or appealing to the authority of.
  • The rule was suspended by invocation of the chairman's emergency powers.

Noun

1. the act of appealing for help
2. calling up a spirit or devil
3. an incantation used in conjuring or summoning a devil
4. a prayer asking God's help as part of a religious service