[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

provocation \prov`oca"tion\, n. f. provocation, l. provocatio.
   see provoke.
   1. the act of provoking, or causing vexation or, anger.
      --fabyan.
      1913 webster

   2. that which provokes, or excites anger; the cause of
      resentment; as, to give provocation. --paley.
      1913 webster

   3. incitement; stimulus; as, provocation to mirth.
      1913 webster

   4. law such prior insult or injury as may be supposed,
      under the circumstances, to create hot blood, and to
      excuse an assault made in retort or redress.
      1913 webster

   5. an appeal to a court.

   note: a latinism obs. --ayliffe.
         1913 webster
see also:
provoke 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

provocation
     n 1: unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment syn: aggravation,
           irritation
     2: something that incites or provokes; a means of arousing or
        stirring to action syn: incitement, incitation
     3: needed encouragement; "the result was a provocation of
        vigorous investigation" syn: incitement
see also:
aggravation irritation incitement incitation 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

21 moby thesaurus words for "provocation":
   bothering, cause, grounds, harassment, incentive, incitement,
   inducement, initiation, instigation, insult, irking, irritation,
   justification, motivation, motive, provoking, reason, stimulus,
   taunt, vexation, vexing

[4] : Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

provocation. the act of inciting another to do something. 
     2. provocation simply, unaccompanied by a crime or misdemeanor, does 
not justify the person provoked to commit an assault and battery. in cases 
of homicide, it may reduce the offence from murder to manslaughter. but when 
the provocation is given for the purpose of justifying or excusing an 
intended murder, and the party provoked is killed, it is no justification. 2 
gilb. ev. by lofft, 753. 
     3. the unjust provocation by a wife of her husband, in consequence of 
which she suffers from his ill usage, will not entitle her to a divorce on 
the ground of cruelty; her remedy, in such cases, is by changing her 
manners. 2 lee,, r. 172; 1 hagg. cons. rep. 155. vide cruelty; to persuade; 
1 russ. on cr. b. 3, c. 1, s. 1, page 434, and b. 3, c. 3, s. 1, pa e 486; 1 
east, p. c. 232 to 241. 

Provocation >> P Words
Provocation, definition of term: Provocation
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