CALL Call, v. i. [imp.& p. p. Called; p. r. & vb. n. Calling] Etym: [OE. callen, AS. ceallin; akin to Icel & Sw. kalla, Dan. kalde, D. kallen to talk, prate, Gr. gar to praise. Cf. Garrulous.]
1. To command or request to come or be present; to summon; as, to call a servant. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain Shak.
2. 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 apostle Rom. i. 1. The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Acts xiii. 2.
3. 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. Shak.
4. To give name to; to name; to address, or speak of, by a specifed name. If you would but call me Rosalind. Shak. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. Gen. i. 5.
5. To regard or characterize as of a certain kind; to denominate; to designate. What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Acts x. 15.
6. 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. Brougham.
7. To show or disclose the class, character, or nationality of. [Obs.] This speech calls him Spaniard. Beau. & Fl.
8. 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. Gay.
9. To invoke; to appeal to. I call God for a witness. 2 Cor. i. 23 [Rev. Ver. ]