1. (v. t.) To ask; to request; to bid; to summon; to ask to do some act, or go to some place; esp., to ask to an entertainment or visit; to request the company of; as, to invite to dinner, or a wedding, or an excursion.

2. (v. t.) To allure; to draw to; to tempt to come; to induce by pleasure or hope; to attract.

3. (v. t.) To give occasion for; as, to invite criticism.

4. (v. i.) To give invitation.

abet acquire affect the interest aid and abet appeal ask ask for attract be attractive be responsible for beckon bid bid come biddance bidding bring down bring on bring upon call call in calling concern contract countenance court encourage engage engraved invitation entice excite excite interest fall in with fall into fascinate feed fetch foster gain get give encouragement incur interest inveigle invitation involve in issue an invitation keep in countenance lure nourish nurture pique provoke run solicit stimulate summon summons tantalize tease tempt tickle titillate welcome whet the appetite woo