vocation

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: vo=ca=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

vocation, n. [L. vocatio a bidding, invitation, fr. vocare to call, fr. vox, vocis, voice: cf. F. vocation. See Vocal.].

•  A call; a summons; a citation; especially, a designation or appointment to a particular state, business, or profession.  [1913 Webster]

  "What can be urged for them who not having the vocation of poverty to scribble, out of mere wantonness make themselves ridiculous?"  [1913 Webster]
•  Destined or appropriate employment; calling; occupation; trade; business; profession.  [1913 Webster]

  "He would think his service greatly rewarded, if he might obtain by that means to live in the sight of his prince, and yet practice his own chosen vocation."  [1913 Webster]
•  A calling by the will of God.  [1913 Webster]

  "Every member of the same [the Church], in his vocation and ministry."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

vocation, n.
1 a strong feeling of fitness for a particular career or occupation (in religious contexts regarded as a divine call).
2 a a person's employment, esp. regarded as requiring dedication. b a trade or profession.

Etymology

ME f. OF vocation or L vocatio f. vocare call

THESAURUS

vocation

ambition, apostleship, area, art, aspiration, bag, basis, business, call, calling, care of souls, career, career building, careerism, cause, consideration, craft, cup of tea, employment, field, forte, game, goal, ground, guiding light, guiding star, handicraft, holy orders, ideal, inspiration, intention, job, lifework, line, line of business, line of work, lodestar, long suit, main interest, mainspring, manner, matter, metier, mission, motive, mystery, number, occupation, pastorage, pastoral care, pastorate, pet subject, practice, priesthood, priestship, principle, profession, pursuit, rabbinate, racket, reason, sacred calling, sake, score, source, specialism, speciality, specialization, specialty, spring, strong point, style, technicality, the church, the cloth, the desk, the ministry, the pulpit, thing, trade, type, ulterior motive, walk, walk of life, way, weakness, work

ROGET THESAURUS

vocation

Business

N business, occupation, employment, pursuit, what one is doing, what one is about, affair, concern, matter, case, matter in hand, irons in the fire, thing to do, agendum, task, work, job, chore, errand, commission, mission, charge, care, duty, part, role, cue, province, function, lookout, department, capacity, sphere, orb, field, line, walk, walk of life, beat, round, routine, race, career, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, vocation, calling, profession, cloth, faculty, industry, art, industrial arts, craft, mystery, handicraft, trade, exercise, work, avocation, press of business, businesslike, workaday, professional, official, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting, in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally Adj, a business with an income at its heels, amoto quaeramus seria ludo, par negotiis neque supra.