INVITATION

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A tempting allurement

Example:

she was an invitation to trouble

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("invitation" is a kind of...):

allure; allurement; temptingness (the power to entice or attract through personal charm)

Derivation:

invite (increase the likelihood of)

invite (give rise to a desire by being attractive or inviting)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something

Example:

she threw the invitation away

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("invitation" is a kind of...):

letter; missive (a written message addressed to a person or organization)

asking; request (the verbal act of requesting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "invitation"):

bidding; summons (a request to be present)

invite (a colloquial expression for invitation)

Derivation:

invitational (pertaining to or characteristic of an invitation)

invite (ask someone in a friendly way to do something)

invite (request the participation or presence of)

invite (ask to enter)

invite (express willingness to have in one's home or environs)

invite (invite someone to one's house)

invite (have as a guest)

Credits

Context examples:

Nor must you be fancying that the invitation is meant as any particular compliment to you; the compliment is intended to your uncle and aunt and me.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Miss Tilney, at Catherine's invitation, now read the letter likewise, and, having expressed also her concern and surprise, began to inquire into Miss Thorpe's connections and fortune.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He rang, and despatched an invitation to Mrs. Fairfax, who soon arrived, knitting-basket in hand.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It all began on June 27, when Matty Roberts posted a event invitation on social media site Facebook.

(Millions don't turn up to 'storm' US airbase for extraterrestrial evidence, Wikinews)

Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation, moreover, including the whole party) so immediately after your arrival!

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

‘Why, now that you mention it,’ said he, ‘I remember that my poor father used to have an invitation from him to shoot over his preserves every autumn.’

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He had many invitations to dinner, some of which he accepted.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I was convinced that it was an invitation which he would not refuse, since he could never imagine that it could come from anyone but the lady.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I stayed till sunset, but humbly desired his highness to excuse me for not accepting his invitation of lodging in the palace.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Clerval eagerly desired to accept this invitation, and I, although I abhorred society, wished to view again mountains and streams and all the wondrous works with which Nature adorns her chosen dwelling-places.