Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CALL, n.

1. A vocal address, of summons or invitation; as, he will not come at a call.
2. Demand; requisition; public claim; as, listen to the calls of justice or humanity.
3. Divine vocation, or summons; as, the call of Abraham.
4. Invitation; request of a public body or society; as, a clergyman has a call to settle in the ministry.
5. A summons from heaven; impulse. St. Paul believed he had a call, when he persecuted the Christians. – Locke.
6. Authority; command. – Denham.
7. A short visit; as, to make a call; to give one a call; that is, a speaking to; D. kallen. To give one a call, is to stop a moment and speak or say a word; or to have a short conversation with.
8. Vocation; employment. In this sense calling is generally used.
9. A naming; a nomination. – Bacon.
10. Among hunters, a lesson blown on the horn, to comfort the hounds. – Encyc.
11. Among seamen, a whistle or pipe, used by the boatswain and his mate, to summon the sailors to their duty. – Encyc.
12. The English name of the mineral called by the Germans Tungsten or Wolfram. – Encyc.
13. Among fowlers, the noise or cry of a fowl, or a pipe to call birds by imitating their voice. – Encyc. Bailey.
14. In legislative bodies, the call of the house, is a calling over the names of the members, to discover who is absent, or for other purpose; a calling of names with a view to obtain answers from the persons named.