voc-, voca-, vocab-, vocat-, -vocation, -vocative, -vocable, vok-, -voke +

One misstep leads to another.

Literally, "Hell calls hell." A warning that the first step in the temptation to go astray from what is "right" (or "morally correct") is difficult to prevent; however, we must always be on guard to strive for what is ethical and honorable.

At this word.

1. An active verbal support for a cause or position.
2. The act of advocating, or speaking or writing, in support (of something).

1. A person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea.
2. Someone who supports or speaks in favor of something or someone.
3. A lawyer who pleads cases in court.
4. To speak, to plead, or to argue in favor of something or someone.

1. The action taken by a person who pleads for or in behalf of someone else; the process of being an intercessor.
2. The process of pleading for a cause or propounding an idea.
3. A reference to the transaction whereby someone pleads the cause of another person in a court of law.

Devil's advocate.

This term is generally used to describe someone who takes the unpopular (opposite) side in an argument (either out of contentiousness or out of a zeal for the truth).

This epithet originally applied to the Vatican official charged with finding objections to beatification or canonization; or, in other words, it was his responsibility to argue against the sainthood of a candidate who is being considered.

Since the 16th century, this individual's title has been promotor fidei, "promotor of the faith" as expressed in the Catholic Encyclopedia which clarifies his function as follows: "The seemingly negative work of the promoter of the faith undoubtedly has a great positive value, in as much as it prevents the Church from pronouncing a certain and favorable judgment on the life and works of a person without possessing unquestionable proof."

The right in English ecclesiastical law of a presentation to a vacant benefice.

1. A person who is employed to encourage people to break the law so they can be arrested and prosecuted: "The government used agents provocateurs to try to undermine the opposition party so they would lose the election."
2. A secret agent implanted in an organization; such as, a trade union or political party, to incite its members to actions or declarations that will result in penalties or punishment.

The love of one's own voice.

1. A hobby or pastime; not one's normal work.
2. The opposite of one's career or occupation.
3. Etymology: "a calling away from one's occupation", from Latin avocationem, "a calling away"; and Latin avocare, "to call away"; from ad-, "away" plus vocare, "to call".

1. To declare the provable truth or validity of; to affirm: "The father avouched that his son could not have committed the crime."
2. To corroborate or to confirm; to vouch for: "Was the police officer able to avouch his accusations?"
3. To accept responsibility for (an action, for example); to acknowledge.
4. To avow; to confess.
5. Etymology: from Middle French avochier, "call upon as authority"; from Old French and Latin advocare, "to call to" as a witness.

That which is capable of being avouched to or verified.

1. Someone who makes frank acknowledgment or affirmation of something.
2. Anyone who declares or asserts something with a strong declaration.

1. To admit openly and bluntly.
2. To declare or to affirm solemnly and formally as true.
3. To acknowledge openly, boldly, and unashamedly.

To confess, or "to avow guilt" does NOT come from the same Latin source as vow (from Anglo-French and Old French vou) which comes from Latin votum, "a vow, a wish, a promise, a dedication".

Avow comes from Latin, vocare, "to call". From Old French avouer, "acknowledge, accept"; especially, as a protector, from Latin advocare.

Capable of being avowed, or openly acknowledged, with confidence.