English
invoke
Invoke comes from Latin invocāre ‘to call upon’, from vōx ‘voice, speech’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- ‘to speak’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wekʷ-‘to speak’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wṓkʷs‘speech, voice’reconstructedo-grade root noun of *wekʷ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*wōks‘voice’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvōx‘voice, speech’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEvocōas vocare‘to call’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinvocāre‘to call upon’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400envoquer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*invokenreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1869invoke
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wekʷ-‘to speak’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*wṓkʷs‘speech, voice’reconstructedo-grade root noun of *wekʷ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*wōks‘voice’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvōx‘voice, speech’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEvocōas vocare‘to call’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinvocāre‘to call upon’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400envoquer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*invokenreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1869invoke
Earliest quotation: 1869, John Stuart Mill: “After marriage, the man had anciently (but this was…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- ‘to speak’
epic, wight, whit, epos, 30 more
through Proto-Italic *wōks ‘voice’
vocalist, vocally, voiceless, vocalize, 26 more
through Latin vōx ‘voice, speech’
voice, vocal, vox, invocation, vociferous, 26 more
through Latin vocō ‘to call’
advocate, invite, invitation, vocational, vie, provocative, provocation, vocation, vouch, provoke, irrevocable, provocateur, revocable, 30 more
Today it means
verb To call upon (a person, a god) for help, assistance or guidance.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- / invoke