evoke

Where does the word "evoke" come from? It comes from Latin evocare, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Evoke’s story begins in Latin: evocare meant “to call out, to summon forth.” To call out, to summon forth, from ex- (out) and vocare (to call). It reached English by 1600s as evoke. Settled as the English word for bringing a feeling or memory to mind. Today, evoke means to bring a feeling, memory, or image to mind.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient evocare "to call out, to summon forth", to call out, to summon forth, from ex- (out) and vocare (to call).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s evoke "to bring a feeling, memory, or image to mind", settled as the English word for bringing a feeling or memory to mind.