To call forth, summon, or bring out; to evoke (a formal or archaic term).
Directly from Latin 'evocare,' composed of 'e-' (out) + 'vocare' (to call). This is a more learned, formal alternative to the more common 'evoke,' which came through Old French. Both lead back to the same Latin root but entered English at different times through different paths.
In Roman law, 'evocate' had a specific technical meaning—to call a case from a lower court to a higher one. That legal precision eventually generalized into the broader meaning of 'calling something forth,' showing how specialized vocabulary spreads into everyday language.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.