Provocative

Did you know that in the early 15th century a provocative was an aphrodisiac?
 
The words provocative and provocation have their origins in the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root wekw (to speak) and Latin vox (voice) and vocare (to call). Latin pro (forth) + vocare = provocare (to call forth, to challenge).
 
Latin provocare is the source of the late 14th century English verb provoken (to provoke: in medicine, to induce sleep, vomiting, etc; and, to stimulate appetite). More generally at this time, provoken also meant to urge, incite, or stimulate to action. Today, ‘to provoke’ means to stir up a feeling or an action.
 
Provocative
 
In the early 15th century, the word provocative, from provocare, first appeared as a noun meaning an aphrodisiac. In the 1620s, a provocative was something that “served or tended to excite or stimulate sexual desire” (Online Etymological Dictionary); “Not tonight, dear, I’m feeling a little unprovoked.”
 
By the mid-15th century, the adjective provocative, from Latin provocativus (calling forth), was being used to describe that which elicits, provokes, excites, or stimulates.
 
Provocation
 
The noun provocation came to English about the same time as provocative; i.e., the early 15th century. The word provocation came from Latin provocationem (a calling forth, a summoning, a challenge; specifically, the act of exciting anger or vexation) and from provocare. Provocation, meaning anything that excites anger or that is a cause of resentment, is from 1716.
 
 
Some other related words include advocate, convocation, evoke, revoke, unequivocal, vocabulary, vocal, vocation, and vociferous. And, of course, voice.
 
Image: https://quietdisruptors.com/thoughtful-provocation/
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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