English
provocation
Provocation comes from Latin prōvocō ‘to call forth, summon’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *wokʷ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wokʷ-reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvocō‘call’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprōvocō‘to call forth, summon’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEprōvocātiō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400provocacion
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500provocacioun
- Englishearliest quotation 2007provocation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wokʷ-reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvocō‘call’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprōvocō‘to call forth, summon’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEprōvocātiō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400provocacion
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500provocacioun
- Englishearliest quotation 2007provocation
Earliest quotation: 2007, Daniel J. Wakin, City Opera Lures Director From Paris: “The Salzburg Festival stunned the musical world by hiring…”
Equivalent to provoke + -ation
Proto-Indo-European *wokʷ-
Latin vocō ‘call’
Latin provocō ‘to call forth, summon’
Middle French provoquer
English provoke
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *wokʷ-
through Latin vocō ‘call’
invite, advocate, invitation, vie, invoke, vouch, vocational, irrevocable, revocation, invocation, convocation, revocable, 31 more
Today it means
noun The act of provoking, inciting or annoying someone into doing something.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *wokʷ- / provocation