---
title: invocation — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «invocation» in the school dictionary: An invocation is a prayer asking God, or in some religions a saint or spirit, for help or blessing, often at the start of a service. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# invocation

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** invocation, prayer, spell, service, minister, Old Greek poems · **What happens:** be, ask, start, call, invoke, say · **To what, where:** prayer, God, service, something, law, spell · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«invocation» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [invocation in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/invocation.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: church — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An invocation is a prayer asking God, or in some religions a saint or spirit, for help or blessing, often at the start of a service.

<!-- fold The tree, 26 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:m1:1
# text = An invocation is a prayer asking God, or in some religions a saint or spirit, for help or blessing, often at the start of a service.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	prayer	prayer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	asking	ask	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	religions	religion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	saint	saint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	appos	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	spirit	spirit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	for	for	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	blessing	blessing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
23	often	often	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
24	at	at	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	conj	_	_
27	of	of	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a invocation | a prayer or some religions |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | gerund | a prayer or some religions *not said here* |  | God |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent god=Recipient |
| 3 | **start** |  |  | a service |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An invocation is calling on something or someone for help or as an authority, like invoking a law.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:m2:1
# text = An invocation is calling on something or someone for help or as an authority, like invoking a law.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	calling	call	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	4	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	6	conj	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	help	help	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	authority	authority	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
16	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	17	mark	_	_
17	invoking	invoke	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	conj	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · progressive | a invocation |  |  | something |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **invoke** | gerund | a invocation *not said here* | a law |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: stories — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In magic stories, an invocation is a spell said to call up a spirit.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:m3:1
# text = In magic stories, an invocation is a spell said to call up a spirit.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	magic	magic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	stories	story	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	spell	spell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	up	up	ADP	RP	_	12	compound:prt	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	spirit	spirit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a invocation | a spell |  | magic stories |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | a spell |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **call up** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | a spell *not said here* | a spirit |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent spirit=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The service began with an invocation.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:x1:1
# text = The service began with an invocation.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	service	service	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the service |  |  |  |  | with a invocation | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with invocation=Subeventuality |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The minister said a short invocation before the meal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:x2:1
# text = The minister said a short invocation before the meal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	before	before	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	meal	meal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the minister | a short invocation |  |  | before the meal |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent invocation=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old Greek poems start with an invocation to the Muse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:x3:1
# text = Old Greek poems start with an invocation to the Muse.
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	start	start	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Muse	muse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **start** | present | Old Greek poems |  |  |  |  | with a invocation to the Muse | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V PP.subeventuality»: agent=Eventuality with invocation=Subeventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wizard spoke an invocation to call the dragon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:x4:1
# text = The wizard spoke an invocation to call the dragon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wizard	wizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	call	call	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | the wizard | a invocation |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **call** | to-infinitive | the wizard *not said here* |  | the dragon |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent dragon=Recipient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The invocation asked God to bless the new school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:x5:1
# text = The invocation asked God to bless the new school.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	God	God	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	iobj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	bless	bless	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the invocation |  | God |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent god=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **bless** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the invocation *not said here* | the new school |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent school=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The invocation of the rule ended the argument.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:invocation:x6:1
# text = The invocation of the rule ended the argument.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	invocation	invocation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	ended	end	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **end** | past | the invocation of the rule | the argument |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality argument=Eventuality |
| 2 | **invoke** |  | the rule |  |  |  |  |  | nom invocation «communication intransitive»: of=agent |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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