Definition of provoke

The word "provoke" derives from the Old French word "prover" which meant "to call forth, summon". This word then evolved into the Middle French "provoir" which took on the meaning of "to excite, incite, or stir up". The Old French word "prover" itself can be traced back to the Latin phrase "pro vovere" which literally translates to "before swearing" or "before vowing". This phrase originally referred to the act of making a promise or oath before participating in legal proceedings or religious ceremonies as a way of demonstrating one's honesty and reliability. Over time, the meaning of "prover" and its derived forms evolved to take on the connotation of causing or inciting an action or response. In medieval times, the French word "provoir" was often used to describe the act of provoking someone into taking action or making a move, particularly in the context of war and diplomacy. By the 15th century, the English language had adopted the term "provoke" from its French roots. The word initially retained its legal and diplomatic connotations, implying that to provoke someone was to induce them to take a specific course of action or make a particular commitment. Over time, however, the meaning of "provoke" evolved to describe a much wider range of situations, eventually coming to encompass any action or response that causes strong emotions or reactions in others.