deesis

D2E1E1S1I1S1
UK, UK/dɪˈiːsɪs/

noun

A call to witness.

Similar
adjuration
OriginAncient Greek δέησις →
Scrabble 7
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Meanings

noun

alternative deësis

  1. rhetoricA call to witness.

    Synonyms: adjuration

  2. rhetoricA vehement expression of desire, as in "think of the children!" or requests preceded by "for God's sake".

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA call to witness.

Similar
adjuration

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekδέησις“entreaty, petition, want”
  2. Englishdeesis

From Ancient Greek δέησις (déēsis, “entreaty, petition, want”), from δέω (déō, “lack, miss”), δέομαι (déomai, “beg”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

deesis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deesis

MLA

“deesis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deesis. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deesis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deesis.

Source: deesis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.