- OE. callen, AS. ceallian; akin to Icel. & Sw. kalla, Dan. kalde, D. kallen to talk, prate, OHG. kallōn to call; cf. Gr. ghry`ein to speak, sing, Skr. gar to praise. Cf. Garrulous
- To command or request to come or be present; to summon; as, to call a servant.Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain
- To summon to the discharge of a particular duty; to designate for an office, or employment, especially of a religious character; -- often used of a divine summons; as, to be called to the ministry; sometimes, to invite; as, to call a minister to be the pastor of a church.Paul . . . called to be an apostleThe Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
- To invite or command to meet; to convoke; -- often with together; as, the President called Congress together; to appoint and summon; as, to call a meeting of the Board of Aldermen.Now call we our high court of Parliament.
- To give name to; to name; to address, or speak of, by a specifed name.If you would but call me Rosalind.And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
- To regard or characterize as of a certain kind; to denominate; to designate.What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
- To state, or estimate, approximately or loosely; to characterize without strict regard to fact; as, they call the distance ten miles; he called it a full day's work.The] army is called seven hundred thousand men.
- To show or disclose the class, character, or nationality of.ObsThis speech calls him Spaniard.
- To utter in a loud or distinct voice; -- often with off; as, to call, or call off, the items of an account; to call the roll of a military company.No parish clerk who calls the psalm so clear.
- To invoke; to appeal to.I call God for a witness.
- To rouse from sleep; to awaken.If thou canst awake by four o' the clock. I prithee call me. Sleep hath seized me wholly.To name; denominate; invite; bid; summon; convoke; assemble; collect; exhort; warn; proclaim; invoke; appeal to; designate.
