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Definition of elicit
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elicit was our Word of the Day on 11/10/2016. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of elicit in a Sentence
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
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
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
She's been trying to elicit the support of other committee members.
My question elicited no response.
She's been unable to elicit much sympathy from the public.
Recent Examples of elicit from the Web
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What might elicit a bout of deep introspection in one person sometimes serves as encouragement to continue foot-in-the-mouth behavior in another.
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The last men's major there, though, the 2003 U.S. Open, elicited shrugs and yawns — and scorn from some national writers.
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Throughout the 1970s and into the ‘80s, Republicans in the Vermont House repeatedly introduced laws that would limit abortion, eliciting reactions from the many vocal liberal Democrats that were shaping the state’s electorate.
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Some films elicit a glistening tear for a scene or two.
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Against the Grain Brewery has elicited a big reaction from customers.
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Holly's post elicited replies from hundreds of people who empathized with her.
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Guillen’s pithy guitar solos elicited appreciative cheers, but the band’s real strength lies in its superior original songs.
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Kerr traveled the country to elicit the advice of people like Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elicit'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Latin Roots of elicit
Elicit derives from the past participle of the Latin verb elicere, formed by combining the prefix e- (meaning "away") with the verb lacere, meaning "to entice by charm or attraction." It is not related to its near-homophone, the adjective illicit—that word, meaning "unlawful," traces back to another Latin verb, licēre, meaning "to be permitted." Nor is elicit related to the verb solicit, even though it sounds like it should be. Solicit derives from Latin sollicitare ("to disturb"), formed by combining the adjective sollus, meaning "whole," with the past participle of the verb ciēre, meaning "to move."
Origin and Etymology of elicit
Latin elicitus, past participle of elicere, from e- + lacere to allure
Synonym Discussion of elicit
ELICIT Defined for English Language Learners
elicit
playDefinition of elicit for English Language Learners
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: to get (a response, information, etc.) from someone
Learn More about elicit
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See words that rhyme with elicit Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for elicit Spanish Central: Translation of elicit Nglish: Translation of elicit for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of elicit for Arabic speakers
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