I. ə̇nˈvīt, usu -īd.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French inviter, from Latin invitare, probably from in- in- (II) + -vitare (probably akin to Greek hiesthai to hasten, long for) — more at gain
transitive verb
1.
a. : to offer an incentive or inducement to : entice , tempt
the book invites interest
writes about the people and places that invite his pen — Atlantic
rock-strewn streams invite the fisherman — American Guide Series: New Jersey
virgin spaces of America invited colonization — Douglas Bush
I loaf and invite my soul — Walt Whitman
b. : to provide opportunity or occasion for : increase the likelihood of : open the way to
to shrink from responsibility is to invite social and economic insecurity — H.G.Armstrong
so long as there is starvation and joblessness in the midst of abundance we are inviting the deluge — Ruth Benedict
lurid emotionalism and tear-jerking nostalgia … inviting sighs and hisses — Leslie Rees
wandered slowly along … in that wholly relaxed state which always seems to invite small adventures — William Beebe
2.
a. : to request the presence or participation of : solicit the company of : ask
invite guests to dinner
invite educators to a conference
invite a team to a tournament
open the door and invite him in
especially : to send a formal invitation to
an affair open only to those who had been invited
b. : to request formally
invite him to be chief executive
invited her to give a talk on flower arrangement
it is not as yet very clear which … are invited to consider becoming signatories — I.A.Richards
c. : to urge politely or indicate a receptiveness to : encourage , welcome
leaned forward … and invited me to continue in English — Barbara Henderson
inviting him to put his own motives under examination — Lionel Trilling
invite bids on a contract
invites oral suggestions from his three clerks — J.P.Frank
his manner did not invite approach — H.E.Starr
intransitive verb
: to issue an invitation
he did not invite : he commanded — Max Beerbohm
the spacious campus … invites to the enjoyment of the out-of-doors — Catalog of Hollins College
II. ˈinˌv- noun
( -s )
now chiefly dialect : invitation 1
you sound like you didn't get no invite to the dance — Richard Bissell