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tr.v. in·voked, in·vok·ing, in·vokes 1. To call on (a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration: "Stretching out her hands she had the air of a Greek woman who invoked a deity" (Ford Madox Ford). 2. To appeal to or cite in support or justification. 3. To call for earnestly; solicit: invoked the help of a passing motorist. 4. To summon with incantations; conjure. 5. To resort to; use or apply: "Shamelessly, he invokes coincidence to achieve ironic effect" (Newsweek). 6. Computers To activate or start (a program, for example). [Middle English envoken, from Old French invoquer, from Latin invocāre : in-, in; see IN-2 + vocāre, to call; see wekw- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] in·voker n. |
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