Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “avocation” come from?

Avocation comes from Latin avocatio, derived from the prefix ab- and the verb vocare meaning "to call," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wekʷ- meaning "to speak or say."

avocation (English): A calling away; a diversion; A hobby or...

Definitions

  1. A calling away; a diversion; A hobby or...

Ancestry of “avocation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latināvocātiō—
2Latināvocō—
3EnglishavocateTo call off or away; to withdraw; to transfer to...
4LatinavocoI call off or away, withdraw, divert, remove,...
5LatinvocoI call, summon, beckon; I name, designate; I...
6Latinvoxvoice; accent; speech, remark, expression, ...
7Proto-Italicwōksvoice
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwṓkʷsvoice, speech
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwekʷ-to speak, to sound out

Words derived from “avocation”

  • avocational
  • avocationally
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wekʷ- →