“A reflex was traditionally said to be “elicited” in the etymological sense of “drawn out.” Operant behavior was different, and I tried to emphasize the difference by saying that it was “evoked,” in the sense of “called out.” (The ethologists would soon be saying “released.”) I also said that operant behavior was “emitted,” and later I tried to justify that usage by pointing out that the light emitted from a hot filament was not in the filament . . . An operant response was not emitted; it simply occurred.” (pp. 130-131)
