Ir'ri-tāte, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. IRRITATED; p. pr. & vb. n. IRRITATING.] [Lat. irritare, irritatum, allied to Icel. reita, to pluck, pull, irritate; Sw. reta, Ger. reizen, to provoke, irritate, excite; It. irritare, Sp. irritar, Fr. irriter.]
Sense 1. To excite heat and redness in, as the skin or flesh of living animal bodies, as by friction; to inflame; to fret; as, to irritate a wounded part by a coarse bandage.
Sense 2. To increase the action or violence of; to heighten excitement in.
Air, if very cold, irritateth the flame. Bacon.
Sense 3. To excite anger in; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate; as, the insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects.
Dismiss the man, nor irritate the god: Prevent the rage of him who reigns above. Pope.
Sense 4. (Physiol.) To produce irritation in. See IRRITATION.
Synonyms—To fret; inflame; excite; provoke; tease; vex; exasperate; anger; incense; enrage.—To IRRITATE, PROVOKE, EXASPERATE. These words express different stages of excited or angry feeling. Irritate denotes an excitement of quick and slightly angry feeling; as, irritated by a hasty remark. To provoke implies the awakening of some open expression of decided anger; as, a provoking insult. Exasperate denotes a provoking of anger in its unrestrained exercise. Whatever comes across our feelings irritates; whatever excites anger provokes; whatever raises anger to a very high point exasperates. “Susceptible and nervous people are most easily irritated; proud people are quickly provoked; hot and fiery people are soonest exasperated.” Crabbe.