invocation

Everyday

1. (church) An invocation is a prayer asking God, or in some religions a saint or spirit, for help or blessing, often at the start of a service. tree →
2. An invocation is calling on something or someone for help or as an authority, like invoking a law. tree →
3. (stories) In magic stories, an invocation is a spell said to call up a spirit. tree →

In the lessons

Church and religion lessons: the opening prayer of a service; old poems begin with an invocation to the Muse. Law and formal speech: «invocation of a rule». Fantasy stories: a wizard's invocation.

Examples

• The service began with an invocation. tree →
• The minister said a short invocation before the meal. tree →
• Old Greek poems start with an invocation to the Muse. tree →
• The wizard spoke an invocation to call the dragon. tree →
• The invocation asked God to bless the new school. tree →
• The invocation of the rule ended the argument. tree →

Note

Verb: invoke. Plural: invocations. Pronounced in-voh-KAY-shun.