invocation

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: in=vo=ca=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

invocation, n. [F. invocation, L. invocatio.].

•  The act or form of calling for the assistance or presence of some superior being; earnest and solemn entreaty; esp., prayer offered to a divine being.  [1913 Webster]

  "Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical!"  [1913 Webster]

  "The whole poem is a prayer to Fortune, and the invocation is divided between the two deities."  [1913 Webster]
•  A call or summons; especially, a judicial call, demand, or order; as, the invocation of papers or evidence into court.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

invocation, n.
1 the act or an instance of invoking, esp. in prayer.
2 an appeal to a supernatural being or beings, e.g. the Muses, for psychological or spiritual inspiration.
3 Eccl. the words 'In the name of the Father' etc. used as the preface to a sermon etc.

Derivative

invocatory adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF f. L invocatio -onis (as INVOKE)

THESAURUS

invocation

Angelus, Ave, Ave Maria, Hail Mary, Kyrie Eleison, Paternoster, adjuration, agape, aid prayer, appeal, asperges, aspersion, auricular confession, bar mitzvah, bas mitzvah, beadroll, beads, beck, beck and call, benedicite, benediction, benison, beseechment, bid, bidding, bidding prayer, blessing, breviary, call, calling, calling forth, celebration, chaplet, circumcision, clamor, collect, communion, confession, confirmation, conjuration, conjurement, contemplation, convocation, cry, devotions, entreaty, evocation, exorcisation, exorcism, exsufflation, grace, high celebration, impetration, imploration, imploring, imprecation, incantation, incense, indent, intercession, invocation of saints, invocatory plea, kiss of peace, lesser litany, litany, love feast, lustration, meditation, nod, obsecration, obtestation, orison, pax, petition, plea, prayer, prayer wheel, preconization, processional, reciting the rosary, requisition, rogation, rosary, silent prayer, suit, summons, supplication, telling of beads, thanks, thanksgiving, the confessional, the confessionary

ROGET THESAURUS

invocation

Allocution

N allocution, alloquy, address, speech, apostrophe, interpellation, appeal, invocation, salutation, word in the ear, dialogism, platform, plank, audience.

Request

N request, requisition, claim, petition, suit, prayer, begging letter, round robin, motion, overture, application, canvass, address, appeal, apostrophe, imprecation, rogation, proposal, proposition, orison, incantation, mendicancy, asking, begging, postulation, solicitation, invitation, entreaty, importunity, supplication, instance, impetration, imploration, obsecration, obtestation, invocation, interpellation, requesting, precatory, suppliant, supplicant, supplicatory, postulant, obsecratory, importunate, clamorous, urgent, cap in hand, on one's knees, on one's bended knees, on one's marrowbones, prithee, do, please, pray, be so good as, be good enough, have the goodness, vouchsafe, will you, I pray thee, if you please, Int, for God's sake!, for heaven's sake!, for goodness' sake!, for mercy's sake!, Dieu vous garde, dirigenos Domine, would you be so kind as to.

Worship

N worship, adoration, devotion, aspiration, homage, service, humiliation, kneeling, genuflection, prostration, prayer, invocation, supplication, rogation, intercession, orison, holy breathing, petition, collect, litany, Lord's prayer, paternoster, beadroll, latria, dulia, hyperdulia, vigils, revival, cult, anxious meeting, camp meeting, ebenezer, virginal, thanksgiving, giving thanks, returning thanks, grace, praise, glorification, benediction, doxology, hosanna, hallelujah, allelujah, Te Deum, non nobis Domine, nunc dimittis, paean, benschen, Ave Maria, O Salutaris, Sanctus, The Annunciation, Tersanctus, Trisagion, psalm, psalmody, hymn, plain song, chant, chaunt, response, anthem, motet, antiphon, antiphony, oblation, sacrifice, incense, libation, burnt offering, heave offering, votive offering, offertory, discipline, self-discipline, self-examination, self-denial, fasting, divine service, office, duty, exercises, morning prayer, mass, matins, evensong, vespers, undernsong, tierce, holyday, worshipper, congregation, communicant, celebrant, worshipping, devout, devotional, reverent, pure, solemn, fervid, Int, hallelujah, allelujah!, hosanna!, glory be to God!, O Lord!, pray God that!, God grant, God bless, God save, God forbid!, sursum corda, making their lives a prayer, ora et labora, prayers ardent open heaven.