Ex-çīte', v. t.

(ek-sīt'), v. t. [imp. & p. p. EXCITED; p. pr. & vb. n. EXCITING.] [Fr. exciter. See EXCITATE.] 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; to inflame; to agitate; as, to excite the spirits; to excite the passions; to excite a mutiny or insurrection. Glory the reward That sole excites to high attempts. Milton. 2. (Med.) To call forth or increase the vital activity of the body, or of any of its parts. Syn.—To incite; awaken; animate; arouse; stimulate; inflame; irritate; provoke.—To EXCITE, INCITE. When we excite we rouse into action feelings which were less strong; when we incite we urge forward to acts correspondent to the feelings awakened. 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 their love of liberty, but by their hopes of plunder.