invitation

noun

Etymology: From Middle English invitacioun, ynvytacioun, from Latin invītātio, reinforced by Middle French invitation. By surface analysis, invite + -ation. Displaced native Middle English lathinge from Old English laþung (see dialectal English lathing).

1. The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person's company.

   “an invitation to a party, to a dinner, or to visit a friend”

   “At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy ; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.”

2. A document or verbal message conveying an invitation.

   “We need to print off fifty invitations for the party.”

3. Allurement; enticement.
4. A line that is intentionally left open to encourage the opponent to attack.
5. The brief exhortation introducing the confession in the Anglican communion-office.
6. A bid that tells one's partner that game or slam is likely if their hand is at the strong end of what they have indicated.

   “I assume also that opener would have shown no interest in slam by either bidding 4NT or 50 after the slam invitation of 46.”

   “To any other invitation made by the captain, acceptance or refusal of the invitation is exclusively a question of points within the range advertised in the opening statement, and the invitation is always in the last called suit.”