Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Excite
Ex-cite′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Excited
; p. pr. & vb. n.
exciting
.] [L.
excitare
; ex
out + citare
to move rapidly, to rouse: cf. OF. esciter
, exciter
, F. exciter
. See Cite
.] 1.
To call to activity in any way; to rouse to feeling; to kindle to passionate emotion; to stir up to combined or general activity;
as, to
excite
a person, the spirits, the passions; to excite
a mutiny or insurrection; to excite
heat by friction.
Syn. – To incite; awaken; animate; rouse or arouse; stimulate; inflame; irritate; provoke.
– To
Excite
, Incite
. When we excite we rouse into action feelings which were less strong; when we incite we spur on or urge forward to a specific act or end. Demosthenes excited the passions of the Athenians against Philip, and thus incited the whole nation to unite in the war against him. Antony, by his speech over the body of Cæsar, so excited the feelings of the populace, that Brutus and his companions were compelled to flee from Rome; many however, were incited to join their standard, not only by love of liberty, but hopes of plunder. Webster 1828 Edition
Excite
EXCI'TE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To rouse; to call into action; to animate; to stir up; to cause to act that which is dormant, stupid or inactive; as, to excite the spirits or courage.2.
To stimulate; to give new or increased action to; as, to excite the human system; to excite the bowels.3.
To raise; to create; to put in motion; as, to excite a mutiny or insurrection.4.
To rouse; to inflame; as, to excite the passions.