vocate

present singular third person vocates · participle present vocating · participle past vocated · past vocated

1. obsoleteTo appoint to a religious office.

   Yet in the remote parishes it would be mearly impossible to find medical men of superior talent to vocate for want of adequate practice.

   1840, Report of the Poor Law Commissioners to the Most Noble the Marquis of Normanby

   2 more examples

   That if Mr. Henop, your present minister, should approve of the aforesaid vocation, your congregation be at perfect liberty to vocate any minister who is a member of the synod; as likewise the minister, being thus vocated, is authorised to accept the vocation.

   1818, Thomas Harris (Jr.), John McHenry, Maryland Reports

   The congregation has the right and duty to vocate a pastor, who must be of the Evangelical Lutheran confession, to honor him, to submit to his official acts as long as they are based on the Word of God.

   1899, The Pacific Reporter - Volume 58, page 974