Evoke

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɪˈvəʊk/

Definitions

1. To bring a feeling, memory, or image into the mind; to call forth or summon a response or reaction
2. To summon or bring to the conscious mind a particular memory or feeling, often triggering an emotional response or recalling an image
3. To cause a particular emotion or memory to appear in someone's mind ; to provoke a reaction or response from someone or something

Etymology: The Latin verb "ēvocāre" was a summoning word: it meant to call someone out of a place, whether a soldier called up for service or a spirit called up from the dead. Its building blocks are plain enough, the prefix "ex-" ("out") joined to "vocāre" ("to call"), and that same "vocō" stem is also the root of "vocal" and "vocation." English "voice" is a close relative, sharing the same ancient root. The word reached English through French "évoquer", which kept the Latin sense of calling forth. For centuries that sense stayed literal and a little ceremonial, the language of summoning a spirit or drawing someone out of hiding. The figurative sense that dominates today, bringing a feeling, memory or image into the mind, developed as the summoning moved from the external world into the imagination. A smell can summon a childhood kitchen, and a painting can summon a mood, so the verb now describes the mind being called to attention rather than a person being called out of a room.

Synonyms: elicit, invoke, summon, bring to mind, recall

Antonyms: suppress, repress, stifle, dispel, forget