v.
- cause to feel very enthusiastic and eager.
▸arouse sexually.
- give rise to (a feeling or reaction).
- produce a state of increased energy or activity in (a physical or biological system).
Derivative
- excitation n. (chiefly technical).
- excitative adj. (rare).
- excitatory adj. (chiefly Physiology ).
- excited adj.
- excitedly adv.
- exciter n.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘incite someone to do something’): from OFr. exciter or L. excitare, frequentative of exciere ‘call out’.