provoke

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   evoke or provoke to appear or occur

   Their behavior provoked a quarrel.

2. 2
   verb

   To cause someone to become annoyed or angry.

   Don't provoke the dog; it may try to bite you.

3. 3
   verb

   To bring about a reaction.

   To the poet the meaning is what he pleases to make it, what it provokes in his own soul.

4. 4
   verb

   To appeal.

   Even Arius and Pelagius durst provoke To what the centuries preceding spoke.

5. 5
   verb

   provide the needed stimulus for

6. 6
   verb

   call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)

7. 7
   verb

   annoy continually or chronically

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French provoquer, from Old French, from Latin prōvocāre. Doublet of provocate.