the act of invoking or calling upon a deity, spirit, etc., for aid, protection, inspiration, or the like; supplication.

any petitioning or supplication for help or aid.

a form of prayer invoking God's presence, esp. one said at the beginning of a religious service or public ceremony.

an entreaty for aid and guidance from a Muse, deity, etc., at the beginning of an epic or epiclike poem.

the act of calling upon a spirit by incantation.

the magic formula used to conjure up a spirit; incantation.

the act of calling upon or referring to something, as a concept or document, for support and justification in a particular circumstance.

the enforcing or use of a legal or moral precept or right.

noun

abracadabra * , appeal , beseeching , calling , command , conjuration , entreaty , hocus-pocus * , hoodoo , mumbo jumbo * , petition , rune , summons , supplication , voodoo * , benediction , bismillah , call , conjuring , enforcement , incantation , litany , plea , prayer , sermon