Excite \Ex*cite"\, v. 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.
2. (Physiol.) To call forth or increase the vital activity of
an organism, or any of its parts.
Syn: To incite; awaken; animate; rouse or arouse; stimulate;
inflame; irritate; provoke.
Usage: 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 C[ae]sar, 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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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