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provoke

pro·voke [ prə vṓk ] (past and past participle pro·voked, present participle pro·vok·ing, 3rd person present singular pro·vokes)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. make somebody feel angry: to make somebody feel angry or indignant

2. elicit response: to be the cause or occasion of an emotion or response
Her bravery provoked a lot of sympathy.

3. stir somebody to emotion: to stir somebody to an emotion or response
The article provoked me to write a letter to the editor.

4. incite something: to bring something about intentionally
provoke an argument

5. cause activity: to serve as the stimulus for an activity
Her new novel should provoke a lot of discussion.

[14th century. Directly or via French< Latin provocare "summon" < vocare "to call" < vox "voice"]

pro·vok·er noun
pro·vok·ing·ly adverb
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