elicit

Borrowed from Latin elicitus from eliciō (“draw forth”).

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈlɪsɪt/

• Audio (US)

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  Rhymes: -ɪsɪt

• Homophone: illicit

elicit (third-person singular simple present elicits, present participle eliciting, simple past and past participle elicited)

1. To evoke, educe (emotions, feelings, responses, etc.); to generate, obtain, or provoke as a response or answer.
   • 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 223–224:

     Shouts of laughter were elicited, smart biddings drawn out, from the whispers of a timid miss, to the stentorian voice of a fox-hunting squire, and not a few fracas from parties either contending for a supposed prize, or disclaiming their chance for it,...

2. To draw out, bring out, bring forth (something latent); to obtain information from someone or something.

   Fred wished to elicit the time of the meeting from Jane.

   Did you elicit a response?

   • 2009, William B. McGregor, Linguistics: An Introduction Answer Key:

     He visited three department stores in New York and asked the attendant a question that would elicit the answer fourth floor; for example, he might have asked Excuse me, where are women's shoes?

3. To use logic to arrive at truth; to derive by reason

   Synonyms: deduce, construe

• illicit (soundalike)

elicit (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Elicited; drawn out; made real; open; evident.
   • 1660, Jeremy Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, or the Rule of Conscience in All Her General Measures; […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] James Flesher, for Richard Royston […], →OCLC:

     An elicit act of equity.

ēlicit

1. third-person singular present active indicative of ēliciō