Added 8 October 2026
excite
/ɪkˈsaɪt/ verb
In Latin: commoveō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about excite at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
To stir the emotions of; to cause to feel excitement.
The fireworks which opened the festivities excited anyone present.
-
To arouse or bring out (e.g. feelings); to stimulate.
Favoritism tends to excite jealousy in the ones not being favored.
-
To cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state; to promote an electron to an outer level.
By applying electric potential to the neon atoms, the electrons become excited, then emit a photon when returning to normal.
Origin
From Middle English exciten, from Old French exciter, from Latin excitō (“to call out, call forth, arouse, wake up, stimulate”), frequentative of excieō (“to call out, arouse, excite”), from ex (“out”) + cieō (“to call, summon”). See cite and compare to accite, concite, incite.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)