elicit

elic·it

transitive verb \i-ˈli-sət\

Definition of ELICIT

1

: to draw forth or bring out (something latent or potential) <hypnotism elicited his hidden fears>

2

: to call forth or draw out (as information or a response) <her remarks elicited cheers>

— elic·i·ta·tion \i-ˌli-sə-ˈtā-shən, ˌē-\ noun

— elic·i·tor \i-ˈli-sə-tər\ noun

Examples of ELICIT

1. She's been trying to elicit the support of other committee members.
2. My question elicited no response.
3. She's been unable to elicit much sympathy from the public.
4. If ever there was a two-way pleasure street, it's the delight a baby takes in being tickled and the joy the parent experiences in the tumble of laughter it elicits. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 17 Jan. 2005
5. Gingrich elicits perhaps the greatest sympathy when he talks about the challenge of graduating from a rabble-rousing backbencher in the House minority to presiding over (and trying to control) the first Republican majority in 40 years. —Richard L. Berke, New York Times Book Review, 17 May 1998
6. In a wild, captive wolf that is not socialized to man, approach will elicit flight and, if the wolf is cornered, a defensive reaction may be triggered, which is termed the critical-distance reaction. —Michael W. Fox, The Soul of the Wolf, 1980

Origin of ELICIT

Latin elicitus, past participle of elicere, from e- + lacere to allure

First Known Use: 1605

Related to ELICIT

Synonyms

educe, evoke, inspire, raise

Related Words

drag, dredge (up), extort, extract, pull, wangle, wrest, wring; coax (out), gain, get, obtain, procure, secure; bare, disclose, discover, divulge, evince, expose, reveal, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

Near Antonyms

disregard, forget, ignore, miss, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over

See Synonym Discussion at educe

Rhymes with ELICIT

complicit, explicit, illicit, implicit, solicit