invitation

The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person's company.

A document or verbal message conveying an invitation.

Allurement; enticement.

(fencing) A line that is intentionally left open to encourage the opponent to attack.

(Christianity) The brief exhortation introducing the confession in the Anglican communion-office.

(bridge) A bid that tells one's partner that game or slam is likely if their hand is at the strong end of what they have indicated.