Invocative

Invocative is an adjective describing something that calls forth a response, appeal, or presence. It can refer to language, actions, or artistic works that seek to summon, invoke, or solicit influence from a source such as a deity, authority, memory, or tradition. The term derives from Latin invocatus, “called upon,” from invocare, “to call upon, appeal to,” with the suffix -ive forming an adjective. It is related to invocatory and invocational, though invocative is a relatively uncommon term and is sometimes used interchangeably with evocative in everyday language.

In religious and liturgical contexts, invocative language or prayers aim to call upon divine presence or assistance. In literary and rhetorical analysis, invocative passages may address a muse, a god, or an ancestral authority to lend ceremonial weight or legitimacy to an argument. In music or performance, invocative chants or motifs seek to summon sacred or mythic power rather than merely establish mood.

Usage notes: Evocative is often the preferred term when the goal is to evoke memories or emotions, whereas invocative emphasizes the act of invoking an external source. Because invocative is less common, some writers choose invocatory or invocational as alternatives to avoid ambiguity. The term typically appears in scholarly or formal discussions of liturgy, ritual, or poetics.

See also: invocation, invocatory, evocative, invocation poetry.