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provoke definition

pro·voke (prə vōk′, prō-)

transitive verb provoked -·voked′, provoking -·vok′·ing

  1. to excite to some action or feeling
  2. to anger, irritate, or annoy
  3. to stir up (action or feeling)
  4. to call forth; evoke to provoke a smile

Etymology: ME provoken < MFr provoquer < L provocare, to call forth < pro-, pro- + vocare, to call < vox, voice

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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