n. [ L. advocatio: cf. OF. avocation. See Advowson. ] 1. The act of advocating or pleading; plea; advocacy. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The holy Jesus . . . sits in heaven in a perpetual advocation for us. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Advowson. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The donations or advocations of church livings. Sanderson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Scots Law) The process of removing a cause from an inferior court to the supreme court. Bell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. avocatio. ] 1. A calling away; a diversion. [ Obs. or Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Impulses to duty, and powerful avocations from sin. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which calls one away from one's regular employment or vocation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments avocations. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

By the secular cares and avocations which accompany marriage the clergy have been furnished with skill in common life. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense the word is applied to the smaller affairs of life, or occasional calls which summon a person to leave his ordinary or principal business. Avocation (in the singular) for vocation is usually avoided by good writers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment; vocation. [ 1913 Webster ]

There are professions, among the men, no more favorable to these studies than the common avocations of women. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a few hours, above thirty thousand men left his standard, and returned to their ordinary avocations. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

An irregularity and instability of purpose, which makes them choose the wandering avocations of a shepherd, rather than the more fixed pursuits of agriculture. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. convocatio: cf. F. convocation. See Convoke. ] 1. The act of calling or assembling by summons. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An assembly or meeting. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the first day there shall be a holy convocation. Ex. xii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Ch. of Eng.) An assembly of the clergy, by their representatives, to consult on ecclesiastical affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In England, the provinces of Canterbury and York have each their convocation, but no session for business were allowed from 1717 to 1861. The Convocation of Canterbury consists of two houses. In the Convocation of York the business has been generally conducted in one assembly. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Oxf. University) An academical assembly, in which the business of the university is transacted.

Syn. -- meeting; assembly; congregation; congress; diet; convention; synod; council. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a convocation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An advocate or defender of convocation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. devocare to call off or away; de + vocare to call. ] A calling off or away. [ R. ] Hallywell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, with a purpose to mislead. [ 1913 Webster ]

There being no room for equivocations, there is no need of distinctions. Locke.

Syn. -- Prevarication; ambiguity; shuffling; evasion; guibbling. See Equivocal, a., and Prevaricate, v. i. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. evocatio: cf. F. évocation. ] The act of calling out or forth. Sir. T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

The evocation of that better spirit. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. invocation, L. invocatio. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act or form of calling for the assistance or presence of some superior being; earnest and solemn entreaty; esp., prayer offered to a divine being. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The whole poem is a prayer to Fortune, and the invocation is divided between the two deities. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A call or summons; especially, a judicial call, demand, or order; as, the invocation of papers or evidence into court. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. provocation, L. provocatio. See Provoke. ] 1. The act of provoking, or causing vexation or, anger. Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which provokes, or excites anger; the cause of resentment; as, to give provocation. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Incitement; stimulus; as, provocation to mirth. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) Such prior insult or injury as may be supposed, under the circumstances, to create hot blood, and to excuse an assault made in retort or redress. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An appeal to a court. [ A Latinism ] [ Obs. ] Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. revocatio: cf. F. révocation. ] 1. The act of calling back, or the state of being recalled; recall. [ 1913 Webster ]

One that saw the people bent for the revocation of Calvin, gave him notice of their affection. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act by which one, having the right, annuls an act done, a power or authority given, or a license, gift, or benefit conferred; repeal; reversal; as, the revocation of an edict, a power, a will, or a license. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. sevocare, sevocatum, to call aside. ] A calling aside. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. univocation. ] Agreement of name and meaning. [ Obs. ] Whiston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. vocatio a bidding, invitation, fr. vocare to call, fr. vox, vocis, voice: cf. F. vocation. See Vocal. ] 1. A call; a summons; a citation; especially, a designation or appointment to a particular state, business, or profession. [ 1913 Webster ]

What can be urged for them who not having the vocation of poverty to scribble, out of mere wantonness make themselves ridiculous? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destined or appropriate employment; calling; occupation; trade; business; profession. [ 1913 Webster ]

He would think his service greatly rewarded, if he might obtain by that means to live in the sight of his prince, and yet practice his own chosen vocation. Sir. P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Theol.) A calling by the will of God. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) The bestowment of God's distinguishing grace upon a person or nation, by which that person or nation is put in the way of salvation; as, the vocation of the Jews under the old dispensation, and of the Gentiles under the gospel. “The golden chain of vocation, election, and justification.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) A call to special religious work, as to the ministry. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every member of the same [ the Church ], in his vocation and ministry. Bk. of Com. Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]