[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/provocation/)

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# provocation

noun (provocation, provocations)

«provocation» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Provocation is something done or said on purpose to make someone angry or to make them react. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#m1)
2. A provocation is one such action. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#m2)
3. «Without provocation» means without any reason. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#m3)

### In the lessons

In playground and safety lessons it explains that teasing and name-calling can be provocation, and that you choose how to react. In stories and news it tells the reader why a fight started. Phrases: «without provocation», «under provocation», «the slightest provocation».

### Examples

- He hit the boy without any provocation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x1)
- Don't react to provocation — walk away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x2)
- She gets angry at the slightest provocation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x3)
- The insults were a deliberate provocation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x4)
- The dog bit the man without provocation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x5)
- Under provocation, he stayed calm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x6)
- Name-calling is provocation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x7)
- The army saw the move as a provocation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x8)
- The Eagle gave the first provocation in seizing upon and in eating the young ones of the Beetle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/#x9)

### Note

Verb: provoke; adjective: provocative. Spelling: provoCation (c), though provoKe has k. Provocation does not make violence right.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means an act that stirs anger. It is the enemy's act that could stir God to anger.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads God's restraint as mercy. God holds back so that nations will not claim their own power did it.

### Examples

- Were it not that I dreaded the enemy's provocation, lest their adversaries should misdeem, lest they should say: Our hand is exalted, and not the LORD hath wrought all this.' (Torah DEU.32.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provocation/#x1)
- Surely there are mockers with me, and mine eye abideth in their provocation. (Writings JOB.17.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provocation/#x2)
- Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said: 'This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; (Writings NEH.9.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provocation/#x3)
- for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and wherewith he made Israel to sin; because of his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD, the God of Israel. (Prophets 1KI.15.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provocation/#x4)

### Note

Verb: provoke; adjective: provocative. Spelling: provoCation (c), though provoKe has k. Provocation does not make violence right.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «provocation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/provocation/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«provocation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/provocation.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «provocation» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/provocation/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«provocation» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/provocation.html) on Mova free.