invoco

Invoco is a Latin verb of the first conjugation meaning "to call upon, to invoke, to appeal to." It is used to address a person or deity or to call upon aid or authority. The etymology traces to in- "upon" plus vocare "to call." The standard verb has the principal parts invoco, invocare, invocavi, invocatum, and follows the regular -are pattern of the first conjugation. In the present system, it appears as invoco (I invoke), invocas, invocat, invocamus, invocatis, invocant.

In syntax, invoco typically takes an accusative object for the deity or entity invoked (e.g., invoco deum, "I invoke a god"), and may bear a dative indicating the beneficiary or person invoked in certain constructions. The passive form invocari means "to be invoked" and appears in various genres of Latin writing. A related noun is invocatio ("invocation"). The term is common in prayers, oaths, or ceremonial contexts and is frequently found in ecclesiastical Latin and classical texts.

Examples found in Latin literature include direct invocations in prayers and supplications, such as invoco te, Deus, "I invoke you, God." In modern scholarly usage, invoco is cited as an example of Latin ritual language and is sometimes analyzed in discussions of invocations in ancient religion and liturgy.

See also: invocatio, invocare, vocare, deorum invocatio.