Invocate vs. Invoke — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 21, 2024
"Invocate" means to call upon in prayer, while "invoke" encompasses a broader range of summoning or citing.
Difference Between Invocate and Invoke
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Invocate is a less common term primarily used in religious or spiritual contexts to describe the act of calling upon a deity or spirit in prayer or ritual. On the other hand, invoke is a more versatile term that can refer to summoning aid or authority, such as a law or principle, or calling upon a deity or the supernatural.
While invocate is specifically geared towards prayer and solemn requests for guidance or assistance, invoke can be used in legal, technical, and everyday contexts, implying a call for support, implementation, or evidence. For example, invoking a law during a legal argument or invoking a function in programming.
The usage of invocate is often limited to formal or ceremonial language, reflecting its solemn connotations of spiritual invocation. Conversely, invoke is widely used across various disciplines and situations, from legal proceedings to casual conversations about calling upon any form of assistance or authority.
Invocate maintains a narrow, religious focus, emphasizing a direct appeal to a higher power, whereas invoke spans a broader spectrum, from the sacred to the secular, encompassing any act of calling upon something for aid.
Comparison Chart
Definition
To call upon in prayer or ritual.
To call on (a higher power) for assistance, or to put into effect (a law, principle, etc.).
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Usage Context
Primarily religious or spiritual.
Broad, including legal, technical, and everyday contexts.
Connotation
Solemn, often associated with formal ceremonies or prayers.
Versatile, can be formal or informal, depending on context.
Frequency
Less common, more specific.
Widely used, more versatile.
Examples
Invocating a deity during a ritual.
Invoking a law, principle, or deity.
Compare with Definitions
Invocate
To make a solemn appeal or prayer.
The priest invocated divine mercy for the congregation.
Invoke
To put into effect or operation.
The emergency plan was invoked due to the natural disaster.
Invocate
To call upon a deity or spirit in prayer.
The shaman invocated the ancestral spirits for guidance.
Invoke
To call on a higher power for assistance.
She invoked the law to defend her case.
Invocate
To appeal to a higher power for assistance.
In her time of need, she invocated a guardian angel.
Invoke
To appeal to an authority or example.
He invoked his right to free speech.
Invocate
To invoke in a religious or spiritual sense.
The ceremony involved invocating the four elements for protection.
Invoke
To call forth or up.
The speaker invoked memories of the past to make a point.
Invocate
To summon or conjure in a sacred context.
The ritual invocated the presence of the divine.
Invoke
To summon with incantations.
The story involved a witch invoking spirits.
Invocate
To invoke.
Invoke
To call on (a higher power) for assistance, support, or inspiration
"Stretching out her hands she had the air of a Greek woman who invoked a deity" (Ford Madox Ford).
Invocate
To invoke or implore
Invoke
To appeal to or cite in support or justification.
Invocate
To summon or conjure up
Invoke
To call for earnestly; solicit
Invoked the help of a passing motorist.
Invocate
To invoke; to call on, or for, in supplication; to implore.
If Dagon be thy god,Go to his temple, invocate his aid.
Invoke
To summon with incantations; conjure.
Invoke
To resort to; use or apply
"Shamelessly, he invokes coincidence to achieve ironic effect" (Newsweek).
Invoke
(Computers) To activate or start (a program, for example).
Invoke
(transitive) To call upon (a person, a god) for help, assistance or guidance.
Invoke
(transitive) To solicit, petition for, appeal to a favorable attitude.
The envoy invoked the King of Kings's magnanimity to reduce his province's tribute after another drought.
Invoke
(transitive) To call to mind (something) for some purpose.
Invoke
(transitive) To appeal for validation to a (notably cited) authority.
In certain Christian circles, invoking the Bible constitutes irrefutable proof.
Invoke
(transitive) To conjure up with incantations.
This satanist ritual invokes Beelzebub.
Invoke
(transitive) To bring about as an inevitable consequence.
Blasphemy is taboo as it may invoke divine wrath.
Invoke
To cause (a program or subroutine) to execute.
Interactive programs let the users enter choices and invoke the corresponding routines.
Invoke
To call on for aid or protection; to invite earnestly or solemnly; to summon; to address in prayer; to solicit or demand by invocation; to implore; as, to invoke the Supreme Being, or to invoke His and blessing.
Go, my dread lord, to your great grandsire's tomb, . . . Invoke his warlike spirit.
Invoke
Evoke or call forth, with or as if by magic;
Raise the specter of unemployment
He conjured wild birds in the air
Stir a disturbance
Call down the spirits from the mountain
Invoke
Cite as an authority; resort to;
He invoked the law that would save him
I appealed to the law of 1900
She invoked an ancient law
Invoke
Request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection;
Appeal to somebody for help
Invoke God in times of trouble
Common Curiosities
Can invoke be used in a religious context?
Yes, invoke can be used in religious contexts, but it is not limited to them and has a broader range of applications.
Can invocate and invoke be used interchangeably?
While they may seem similar, their specific contexts and connotations often make them non-interchangeable.
Is invocate commonly used in modern language?
Invocate is less common and more often found in formal or ceremonial contexts, particularly those with spiritual or religious nuances.
What does it mean to invoke a law?
Invoking a law means to call upon the authority of the law to support an action or argument.
Can invocate be used in a non-spiritual context?
Invocate is primarily associated with spiritual or religious appeals and is rarely used outside these contexts.
What does it mean to invoke an emergency power?
To invoke emergency powers means to put into effect special legal and administrative measures in response to a crisis.
Is invoking spirits the same as invocating them?
Invoking spirits can imply a broader range of actions, including summoning or calling upon them, while invocating is more specific to making a solemn appeal or prayer.
What is an example of invoking someone's memory?
Sharing stories about a loved one at a gathering can invoke their memory, bringing their presence to mind among those present.
How can a writer invoke emotion in readers?
A writer can invoke emotion by using descriptive language, evocative imagery, and relatable experiences to elicit an emotional response.
Is it appropriate to use invocate in everyday conversation?
Due to its formal and ceremonial connotations, invocate is less likely to be used in casual conversation.
Can a speaker invoke feelings of patriotism in an audience?
Yes, a speaker can invoke patriotism by referencing national symbols, historic events, or shared values that resonate with the audience.
How does one invocate divine assistance in a ritual?
Divine assistance is invocated through specific prayers, chants, or ritual actions designed to appeal to a deity or higher power.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
