invitation English · revision 7488

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=mid-15th century|origins=la invito}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|invitation]] or directly Latin [[m|la|invitatio|t=an invitation, incitement]],^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)^(Etymonline) from the past participle stem of [[m|la|invito|alt=invītāre|t=to invite, entertain]] (see [[invite]]),^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from in-, toward, and an obscure second element, which Watkins traces to PIE [[ine-pro|*weyh₁-|alt=*weie-|t=to go after, pursue]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act of inviting: mid-15th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) 1611 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The presenting of attractions or inducements is from 1598,^(OED 1989) and the spoken or written form in which a person is invited from 1615.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) An entertainment to which one is invited is a rare obsolete sense of 1682.^(OED 1989) Attributive use, as in ''invitation card'', is from 1808.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) In bridge, a bid inviting the partner to bid further is from 1928.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * mid-15th century – act of inviting.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1598 – inducement.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1615 – the written form.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1808 – attributive use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1928 – in bridge.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of [[invite|alt=inviting]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A spoken or written [[request]] for someone to come or take part.^(AHD)

+ # An [[enticement]] or attraction.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[invitational]]

+ * [[reinvitation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[invite]]

+ * [[inviting]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}