Lewis & Short

ad-vŏco, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., to call or summon one to a place, esp. for counsel, aid, etc.; constr. absol., with ad, in, or dat.

  1. I. In gen.
    1. A. Lit.: ego Tiresiam advocabo et consulam quid faciendum censeat, Plaut. Am. 5, 1, 76: contionem, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 80: aliquem ad obsignandum, id. Att. 12, 18; so Liv. 1, 39: viros primarios in consilium, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 7, § 18; so Liv. 42, 33: ego vos, quo pauca monerem, advocavi, Sall. C. 60: eo (i. e. in aedem Concordiae) senatum advocat, id. ib. 47: (Deus) advocabit caelum desursum, Vulg. Psa. 49, 4: advocari gaudiis, to be invited, Hor. C. 4, 11, 13: aegro, Ov. R. Am. 110: causis, Quint. 11, 1, 38.
    2. B. Trop.: animum ad se ipsum advocamus, we turn the mind upon itself, call the thoughts home, Cic. Tusc. 1, 31: non desiderat fortitudo advocatam iracundiam, id. ib. 4, 23; so id. Ac. 2, 27; id. Tusc. 5, 38.
  2. II. Esp.
    1. A. In judicial lang., t. t., to avail one’s self of some one in a cause, as aid, assistant, witness, counsellor, etc., to call in: aliquem alicui, Plaut. Cas. 3, 3, 6; so id. Bacch. 2, 3, 28; id. Ps. 4, 7, 59: aliquot mihi Amicos advocabo, Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 83: viros bonos complures advocat, Cic. Quint. 21: in his, quos tibi advocasti, id. ib. 2 al.
      Also used of the friend of the plaintiff or defendant, who calls in his friends to aid in the suit: Oppianicus in judicio Scamandri aderat, frequens advocabat, Cic. Clu. 19.
      Hence, transf. to other things, to call to one’s aid, to call to for help, to summon: desuper Alcides telis premit omniaque arma Advocat, Verg. A. 8, 249: secretas artes, Ov. M. 7, 138: ad conamina noctem, Sil. 9, 82; Sen. Troad. 613: aliquid in tutelam securitatis suae, Vell. 2, 108: vires suas, Sen. Ben. 6, 2.
    2. B. To get a respite, to delay, Plin. Ep. 5, 8; v. advocatio, II. C.
    3. C. To give consolation, to console (in imitation of the Gr. παρακαλεῖν), Tert. adv. Marc. 14.
      Note: In the phrase ADVOCAPIT CONCTOS, in the song of the Fratres Arvales, Grotef. (Gr. II. 290) explains advocapit as an old imperat., instead of advocabite.Hence, advŏcātus, i, m.
    1. A. In the class. per., in judicial lang., one who is called by one of the parties in a suit to aid as a witness or counsel, a legal assistant, counsellor (diff. from patronus or orator, who spoke for a client engaged in a suit; from cognitor, who appeared in the name of such parties as had themselves been at first in court; and from procurator, who appeared for such as were absent, Ascon. ad Cic. Div. in Caecil. 4; Ruhnk. ad Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 48; Heind. ad Hor. S. 2, 5, 38; v. Smith’s Dict. Antiq.): quaeso, ut advocatus mihi adsis neve abeas, Plaut. Am. 4, 3, 3; so id. Men. 5, 2, 47; id. Mil. 5, 26; id. Poen. 3, 1, 23; 6, 11; id. Trin. 5, 2, 37 al.: adversusne illum causam dicerem, cui veneram advocatus? Ter. Ad. 4, 5, 43; so id. Eun. 2, 3, 49; 4, 6, 26; id. Ad. 4, 5, 11: quis eum umquam non modo in patroni, sed in laudatoris aut advocati loco viderat, Cic. Clu. 40; id. Phil. 1, 7: venire advocatum alicui in rem praesentem, id. Off. 1, 10, etc.; Liv. 42, 33, 1.
    2. B. In the post-Aug. per., for patronus, orator, etc., who conducted a process for any one, an advocate, attorney, etc., Quint. 12, 1, 13; cf. id. 12, 1, 25; 5, 6 fin.; 9, 3, 22; Plin. Ep. 7, 22; Tac. A. 11, 5, 6; Suet. Claud. 15 and 33.
    3. C. Esp., in eccl. Lat., of Christ as our intercessor, advocate: advocatum habemus apud Patrem, Jesum Christum, Vulg. 1 Joan. 2, 1.
    4. D. Transf., in gen., an assistant, helper, friend: se in fugam conferunt unā amici advocatique ejus, Cic. Caecin. 8, 22.