Past tense of advocate; publicly supported or recommended a particular cause, policy, or way of acting.
From Latin 'advocatus' meaning 'called to one's aid', from 'ad-' (to) plus 'vocare' (to call). Originally a legal term for someone called to speak in court, it expanded to mean any kind of public support or recommendation by the 14th century.
The connection between 'advocate' and 'voice' runs deep - both come from the Latin 'vocare' meaning 'to call'. When you advocate for something, you're literally 'calling out' for it, giving voice to a cause that might otherwise remain silent.
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