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The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person's company; as, an invitation to a party, to a dinner, or to visit a friend.

which attracts or draws; an attraction; an allurement. Speaks nothing but attractives and invitation. South.

An invitation of friends to drink ale at some poor man's house, and there to contribute in charity for his relief. [Prov. Eng.]

ise, as by signs, the sound of some instrument, or by writing; a summons; an entreaty; an invitation; as, a call for help; the bugle's call. "Call of the trumpet." Shak. I rose as at thy call, but found thee not. Milton.

A divine summons or invitation; also, the state of being divinely called. Who hath . . . called us with an holy calling. 2 Tim. i. 9. Give diligence to make yior calling . . . sure. 2 Pet. i. 10.

paper, blank or prepared for various uses; as, a playing card; a visiting card; a card of invitation; pl. a game played with cards. Our first cards were to Carabas House. Thackeray.

An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any kind; a defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons. A challenge to controversy. Goldsmith.

Entreaty; invitation. [Obs.] Shak.

al, or commodore. -- Flag of truse, a white flag carried or displayed to an enemy, as an invitation to conference, or for the purpose of making some communication not hostile. -- Flag share, the flag officer's share of prize money. -- Flag station (Railroad), a station at which trains do not stop unless signaled to…

m the settlement of Herrnhut (the Lord's watch) made, about 1722, by the Moravians at the invitation of Nicholas Lewis, count of Zinzendorf, upon his estate in the circle of Bautzen.

Have or have not; -- a familiar invitation to reciprocal drinking. Shak.

; to embrace; as, this volume of Shakespeare includes his sonnets; he was included in the invitation to the family; to and including page twenty-five. The whole included race, his purposed prey. Milton. The loss of such a lord includes all harm. Shak.

consignment, or informal dedication, as of a book to a person, as a mark of respect or an invitation of patronage.

To thrust one's self in; to come or go in without invitation, permission, or welcome; to encroach; to trespass; as, to intrude on families at unseasonable hours; to intrude on the lands of another. Thy wit wants edge And manners, to intrude where I am graced. Shak. Some thoughts rise and intrude upon us, while we shun…

Using or containing invitations. The "Venite" [Psalm xcv.], which is also called the invitatory psalm. Hook.

To give invitation. Milton.

Invitation. [Obs.] Chapman.

est suggestion. With jealous leer malign Eyed them askance. Milton. She gives the leer of invitation. Shak. Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer. Pope.

One who bears a message; the bearer of a verbal or written communication, notice, or invitation, from one person to another, or to a public body; specifically, an office servant who bears messages.

To deny, as a request, demand, invitation, or command; to decline to do or grant. That never yet refused your hest. Chaucer.