ə̇nˈvōk transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English invoken, from Middle French invoquer, from Latin invocare, from in- in- (II) + vocare to call, from voc-, vox voice — more at voice
1.
a. : to petition for help or support : call upon for assistance
the gods had to be invoked to bring rain — T.E.Sanford
she would invoke the Travelers' Aid Society, and they would assist her in getting a … place to live — Donn Byrne
b. : to appeal to as furnishing authority or motive : propound as a logical basis
racist doctrines are invoked for political ends — Ruth Benedict
invoke the balance-of-payments difficulties to justify … import prohibitions — Economist
four theories … invoked by geographers to explain the origin or the areas — S.A.Cain
imaginary lesions … invoked to account for conditions which had a merely psychogenic origin — R.S.Ellery
2.
a. : to call forth by incantation : conjure 2
spokesmen for the two tribes invoked the spirits of departed … chiefs to tell them they were now as one — Time
invoke a plague on all their houses — W.L.Sperry
b. : to use (a respected name) to imply endorsement by the owner
more misquotations probably have been attributed to Jefferson than to any other American, because many politicians who invoke his name have read him not at all — L.B.Wright
3.
a. : to make an earnest request for : solicit
invoke the board's help in getting his old job back — Dixon Wecter
the student of genetics invokes the aid of the physicist and biochemist — J.M.Fogg
b. : entreat , implore
invoke mercy
invoked their forgiveness
4.
a. : to call for (as papers or other evidence) judicially — used chiefly in admiralty prize procedure
b. : to put into legal effect or call for the observance of : enforce , implement
invoke the penalties of the law — Albert Mowbray
military sanctions may be invoked only after economic sanctions have failed — Normal Hill
invoked the veto six times in the dispute — C.D.Fuller
invoke a promise
unhesitatingly invoked the health department's broad powers — Leonard Engel
because it possesses that right … can usually discipline the majority without invoking its prerogative — Foreign Affairs
5.
a. : to introduce or put into operation : instigate , employ
controls alien to … peacetime custom will have to be invoked — Stacy May
invoke bold visions at a time of unrest — Norman Cousins
discipline should not be invoked … without first consulting the union — Earl Brown
alliteration's artful aid is invoked on every page — Irish Digest
b. : to bring about : cause , excite
operations … invoke new problems of administration, maintenance and supply — H.H.Arnold & I.C.Eaker
stabilizing the regime and invoking social and patriotic fervor — E.P.Snow