invoked

[ in-vohkt ]

adjective

1. (of a deity, saint, Muse, etc.) petitioned, prayed to, or called upon for help or aid:

   On all four sides of the obelisk there are inscriptions associating the invoked deities with the cardinal points of the compass.

2. prayed or asked for with earnest desire:

   Many drivers who have miraculously escaped from car accidents credit the invoked protection of St. Christopher.

3. declared to be in effect:

   While overseas he was detained by local police for allegedly misstating his company's registered assets—a rarely invoked charge.

4. appealed to or mentioned, as for confirmation or justification:

   This logic of caution is most recognizable in the often invoked slogan that “risk management is good business.”

5. (of a spirit) called forth or summoned by incantation:

   The initiation ritual is a one-to-one encounter with an initiator, who acts as agent for the invoked powers in the spirit world.

6. Computers. displayed, opened, or executed as a result of clicking on a link, entering a search term, changing a parameter, etc.:

   If you click on the Back arrow, the invoked view will replace the current view in the navigation history.

7. caused or brought about by a certain thing or in a certain way (often used in combination):

   The report ignored the millions of refugees fleeing the recent military-invoked escalation of violence in the region.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of invoke.

Other Words From

• un·in·voked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invoked¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; invoke ( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective senses; invoke ( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

JD Vance invoked a fictional serial killer’s words to explain why Donald Trump’s critics shouldn’t be surprised he won the presidency.

From Salon

In Missouri, Planned Parenthood has invoked the ballot measure to challenge not only the state’s sweeping ban but also laws mandating a 72-hour waiting period, a prohibition on telehealth procedures, and a requirement that clinicians have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.

From Slate

Both men invoked Trump frequently on the campaign trail.

From Los Angeles Times

The SNP told BBC Scotland News that its disciplinary processes could only be invoked against current party members.

From BBC

The "upper middle-class" label invoked by Reich is an effort to crawl out of the conceptual and terminological morass: Who or what is the middle class, exactly, and how useful is it to split that up into the "upper" or "lower" or "Black" or "suburban" middle classes to suit a particular point?

From Salon

Related Words

• imposed
• prescribed
• required
• sanctioned