▪ I. invite, v.
(ɪnˈvaɪt)
[f. F. invite-r (15–16th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. invītāre to invite.]
1. trans. Of a person: To ask (a person) graciously, kindly, or courteously, a. to come to (into, etc.) a place or proceeding to which he is assumed to be pleased or willing to come. to invite oneself, to announce one's intention of coming, or say that one will have pleasure in being present. to invite in: to ask (a person) to come into one's house.
| 1553 S. Cabot Ordinances in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 262 If you shall be invited into any Lords or Rulers house to dinner or other parliance. 1566 Gresham Let. 15 Dec. in Burgon Life (1839) II. 184 The Duke's Grace hath invited himself to Gresham-House upon Wedensdaye next at night, and wyll dyne with me upon Thursday. 1596 Spenser F.Q. vi. ix. 16 But Melibœe..began Him to inuite vnto his simple home. 1611 Bible Ecclus. xiii. 9 If thou be inuited of a mighty man, withdraw thy selfe, and so much the more will he inuite thee. 1651 Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) 225 The ambassy of Titus to invite that Lord into Scotland. 1657 R. Ligon Barbadoes (1673) 8 He sent to us a very kind message, inviting himself aboard our ship. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 47 ¶3 My husband was often invited to dinner. 1838 Lytton Alice i. vii, I was thinking, myself, that I should like to invite her. 1839 Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 43 Aske was invited to court. 1875 Harper's Mag. Aug. 417 She found a house where she was invited in. 1888 Mrs. H. Ward R. Elsmere II. iii. xxii. 213 It was evidently the Squire's purpose to come in, so Robert invited him in. 1899 Skeel & Brearley King Washington 37 Being occupied in a nice calculation whether or not her breakfast menu would stand the strain of an extra appetite should Mr. Ettrick..invite the captain in. 1974 ‘M. Underwood’ Pinch of Snuff xi. 94 ‘I doubt whether we need a warrant,’ Sergeant Ellis remarked. ‘After all, he invited us in.’ |
b. to do something assumed to be agreeable.
| 1583 Hollyband Campo di Fior 73 To daye a certeine cheese-seller invited them to eate Curdes. 1617 Moryson Itin. ii. 203 This gentleman was invited by the Lord Deputy to accompany him to Dublin. 1687 Dryden Hind & P. ii. 670 She thought good manners bound her to invite The stranger dame to be her guest that night. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian i. (1826) 5 She did not invite him to enter. 1823 Mrs. Markham Hist. Eng. vii. (1853) 39 They..invited Edward..to ascend the throne. 1885 S. Cox Expos. Ser. i. ii. 26, I was..inviting you to speculate too curiously. |
c. To request graciously or courteously (something) to be done by a person.
| 1854 Hawthorne Eng. Note-Bks. (1879) II. 336 Nobody..invited our entrance. 1856 Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 474, I invite your attention to this side of the question. 1873 Tristram Moab ii. 22 A return visit was invited. 1873 Black Pr. Thule xv, I never invite confidences. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 70, I was going to invite the opinion of some older person. |
† d. To try to attract or induce. Obs.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Rich. III 38 By previe letters and cloked messengers, dyd sturre and invite to this newe conjuracion, al such which [etc.]. 1556 Aurelio & Isab. (1608) C v, She, that sholde have invitede me unto the lovinge faulte. 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 115 They are not willingly invited to eate with other men. |
e. fig. Unintentionally to bring on (something) or encourage (it) to come.
| 1650 Fuller Pisgah Ep. Ded. 49 b, Others degenerating by their vicious courses, invited neglect and contempt upon themselves. 1665 Dryden Ind. Emperor ii. ii, You threaten Peace, and you invite a War. 1796 Burke Regic. Peace iv. Wks. IX. 111 When we invite danger from a confidence in defensive measures. 1876 J. Parker Paracl. i. xiii. 214 To be earnest in the cause of the Cross, is to invite the charge of fanaticism. |
2. a. Of a thing: To present inducements to (a person) to do something or proceed to a place or action.
| 1533 More Debell. Salem Wks. 993/2 The law doth inuyte and hyre euery man to thaccusing of the breakers of the same by giuing them the tone half of the forfaiture. 1555 Eden Decades 307 The exemples of owre fathers and predicessours doo inuite vs hereunto. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 11 The Merchants removing hither, invited by the immunities of the Temple, and conveniencie of the place. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 278 All things invite To peaceful Counsels and the settl'd State Of order. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. III. lx. 293 There were many circumstances which invited the natives of Ireland to embrace the king's party. 1821 Byron Sardan. i. 553 Come, Myrrha, let us go on to the Euphrates: The hour invites, the galley is prepared. |
b. To tend to bring on; to lie open to.
| 1599 H. Buttes Dyets drie Dinner L iv b, [It] easily corrupteth in the stomack: inviteth the Ague. 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 31 One looke invites another. 1790 Burke Corr. (1844) III. 179 Though it was a far less dangerous measure..it still seemed to invite discussion. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. xiii. 242 The characteristics of this period..invite our..inquiries. |
† c. To draw to itself, attract physically. Obs.
| 1671 R. Bohun Wind 50 If the..Vapors have gravity enough..to invite them Downward. Ibid. 72 An iron bullet, heated, and drawn over the surface of water, that presently invites the ambient Air to follow the same course. 1800 tr. Lagrange's Chem. I. 315 Did not the presence of soda invite to it the acid, while the fluoric acid invites the metal. |
▪ II. invite, n. colloq.
(ˈɪnvaɪt, formerly ɪnˈvaɪt)
[f. invite v.: cf. command, request, etc.]
1. The act of inviting; an invitation.
| 1659 H. L'Estrange Alliance Div. Off. 326 Bishop Cranmer..gives him an earnest invite to England. 1778 F. Burney Diary (1842) I. 105 Everybody bowed and accepted the invite but me..for I have no intention of snapping at invites from the eminent. 1818 Lady Morgan Autobiog. (1859) 39 We have refused two invites for to-day. Ibid. 292 For Monday we have had three dinner invites. 1825 T. Hook Man of Many Friends in Sayings & Doings Ser. ii. I. 279 Adepts in every little meanness or contrivance likely to bring about an invitation (or, as they call it with equal good taste, an ‘invite’). 1883 C. R. Smith Retrospect. I. 21 Mr. Isaacson readily accepted the invite. 1937 Times 28 Dec. 7/5 This little servant girl, who..believed that she would some day receive an ‘invite’ to a royal ball and marry the prince, [etc.]. 1968 Listener 13 June 770/1 Is it just an invite from the colonel for a working week-end? 1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard v. 143 The four detectives didn't await an invite into the house. |
† 2. pl. (nonce-use for rhyme.) Attractions, baits.
| 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 305 The Lamprey swims to his Lords invites [natat ad magistrum delicata murena], The Bedel the knowne Mullet cites. |
▪ III. † invite, a. (or adv.) Obs. rare.
[ad. L. invīt-us unwilling (cf. It. invito ‘against one's will’, Florio); or perh. L. invītē adv., unwillingly, against one's will.]
Unwilling(ly); against one's will.
| c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun 2648 He soeffred it of free wille and invite [gl. maugre his] nevre the more. |