in|vit´er

in|vite «verb. ihn VYT; noun. IHN vyt», verb, -vit|ed, -vit|ing, noun.

–v.t.

1. to ask (someone) politely to come to some place or to do something: »

She invited her friends to a party. We invited her to join our club.

SYNONYM(S): bid. See syn. under call. (Cf. ↑call)

2. to make a polite request for: »

She invited our opinion of her story.

SYNONYM(S): request.

3. to give a chance for; tend to cause: »

The letter invites some questions. Carelessness invites trouble.

4. to attract; tempt: »

The cool water invited us to swim. I saw nothing in this country that could invite me to a longer continuance (Jonathan Swift).

SYNONYM(S): encourage.

–n.

Slang. an invitation: »

She had had a last-minute dinner invite from her boss (Playboy).

╂[< Middle French inviter, learned borrowing from Latin invītāre]

–in|vit´er, noun.