PROVO'KE, verb transitive [Latin provoco, to call forth; pro and voco, to call.]

1. To call into action; to arouse; to excite; as, to provoke anger or wrath by offensive words or by injury; to provoke war.

2. To make angry; to offend; to incense; to enrage.

Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath. Ephesians 6:4.

Often provoked by the insolence of some of the bishops--

3. To excite; to cause; as, to provoke perspiration; to provoke a smile.

4. To excite; to stimulate; to increase.

The taste of pleasure provokes the appetite, and every successive indulgence of vice which is to form a habit, is easier than the last.

5. To challenge.

He now provokes the sea-gods from the shore.

6. To move; to incite; to stir up; to induce by motives. Romans 10:19.

Let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works. Hebrews 10:24.

7. To incite; to rouse; as, to provoke one to anger. Deuteronomy 32:21.

PROVO'KE, verb intransitive To appeal. [A Latinism, not used.]