EXCI'TE, verb transitive [Latin excito; ex and cito, to cite, to call or provoke.] 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.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI