invoke

Definitions

in- (upon) + voke (call) = "call upon." You call upon something higher — a god, a law, an authority — to support or justify you. (Here in- means "upon/toward," not the negative "not.")

Common Collocations

• 1.invoke the law援引法律
• 2.invoke a right援引权利
• 3.invoke a clause援引条款
• 4.invoke God's name呼求神名

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The lawyer invoked an old statute to defend her client.

• 2.

  Protesters invoked their right to free assembly.

• 3.

  The priest invoked the gods before the ceremony began.

Easily Confused

invoke vs evoke — invoke = actively call upon an authority to back you (invoke a treaty). evoke = draw a feeling or memory out of someone (the photo evokes nostalgia). If you can replace it with "appeal to," it's invoke; if with "bring to mind," it's evoke.