Invite

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: in=vite

CIDE DICTIONARY

Invite, v. t. [L. invitare: cf. F. inviter. See Vie.].

•  To ask; to request; to bid; to summon; to ask to do some act, or go to some place; esp., to ask to an entertainment or visit; to request the company of; as, to invite to dinner, or a wedding, or an excursion.  [1913 Webster]

  "So many guests invite as here are writ."  [1913 Webster]

  "I invite his Grace of Castle Rackrent to reflect on this."  [1913 Webster]
•  To allure; to draw to; to tempt to come; to induce by pleasure or hope; to attract.  [1913 Webster]

  "To inveigle and invite the unwary sense."  [1913 Webster]

  "Shady groves, that easy sleep invite."  [1913 Webster]

  "There no delusive hope invites despair."  [1913 Webster]
•  To give occasion for; as, to invite criticism.

Syn. -- To solicit; bid; call; ask; summon; allure; attract; entice; persuade.

Invite, v. i. 

 To give invitation.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Invite, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. (often foll. by to, or to + infin.) ask (a person) courteously to come, or to do something (were invited to lunch; invited them to reply).
2 tr. make a formal courteous request for (invited comments).
3 tr. tend to call forth unintentionally (something unwanted).
4 a tr. attract. b intr. be attractive.
--n. colloq. an invitation.

Derivative

invitee n. inviter n.

Etymology

F inviter or L invitare

THESAURUS

Invite

abet, acquire, affect the interest, aid and abet, appeal, ask, ask for, attract, be attractive, be responsible for, beckon, bid, bid come, biddance, bidding, bring down, bring on, bring upon, call, call in, calling, concern, contract, countenance, court, encourage, engage, engraved invitation, entice, excite, excite interest, fall in with, fall into, fascinate, feed, fetch, foster, gain, get, give encouragement, incur, interest, inveigle, invitation, involve in, issue an invitation, keep in countenance, lure, nourish, nurture, pique, provoke, run, solicit, stimulate, summon, summons, tantalize, tease, tempt, tickle, titillate, welcome, whet the appetite, woo

ROGET THESAURUS

Invite

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Offer

VB offer, proffer, present, tender, bid, propose, move, make a motion, make advances, start, invite, hold out, place in one's way, put forward, hawk about, offer for sale, press, lay at one's feet, offer oneself, present oneself, volunteer, come forward, be a candidate, stand for, bid for, seek, be at one's service, go a begging, bribe.

Request

VB request, ask, beg, crave, sue, pray, petition, solicit, invite, pop the question, make bold to ask, beg leave, beg a boon, apply to, call to, put to, call upon, call for, make a request, address a request, prefer a request, put up a request, make a prayer, address a prayer, prefer a prayer, put up a prayer, make a petition, address a petition, prefer a petition, put up a petition, make application, make a requisition, ask trouble, ask one for, claim, offer up prayers, whistle for, beg hard, entreat, beseech, plead, supplicate, implore, conjure, adjure, obtest, cry to, kneel to, appeal to, invoke, evoke, impetrate, imprecate, ply, press, urge, beset, importune, dun, tax, clamor for, cry aloud, cry for help, fall on one's knees, throw oneself at the feet of, come down on one's marrowbones, beg from door to door, send the hat round, go a begging, mendicate, mump, cadge, beg one's bread, dance attendance on, besiege, knock at the door, bespeak, canvass, tout, make interest, court, seek, bid for, publish the banns.