Part 889

Such conquerors are the instruments of vengeance on those nations that have . . . grown ripe for excision.

Atterbury.

2. (Eccl.) The act of cutting off from the church; excommunication.

3. (Surg.) The removal, especially of small parts, with a cutting instrument. Dunglison.

Ex*cit"a*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. excitabilité.] 1. The quality of being readily excited; proneness to be affected by exciting causes.

2. (Physiol.) The property manifested by living organisms, and the elements and tissues of which they are constituted, of responding to the action of stimulants; irritability; as, nervous excitability.

Ex*cit"a*ble (?), a. [L. excitabilis inciting: cf. F. excitable.] Capable of being excited, or roused into action; susceptible of excitement; easily stirred up, or stimulated.

Ex*cit"ant (?), a. [L. excitans, -antis, p. pr. of excitare: cf. F. excitant.] Tending to excite; exciting.

Ex*cit"ant, n. (Physiol.) An agent or influence which arouses vital activity, or produces increased action, in a living organism or in any of its tissues or parts; a stimulant.

Ex*cit"ate (?), v. t. [L. excitatus, p. p. of excitare. See Excite.] To excite. [Obs.] Bacon.

Ex`ci*ta"tion (?) n. [L. excitatio: cf. F. excitation.] 1. The act of exciting or putting in motion; the act of rousing up or awakening. Bacon.

2. (Physiol.) The act of producing excitement (stimulation); also, the excitement produced.

Ex*cit"a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. excitatif.] Having power to excite; tending or serving to excite; excitatory. Barrow.

Ex"ci*ta`tor (?), n. [L., one who rouses.] (Elec.) A kind of discarder.

Ex*cit"a*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. excitatoire.] Tending to excite; containing excitement; excitative.

Ex*cite" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excited; p. pr. & vb. n. exciting.] [L. excitare; ex out + citare to move rapidly, to rouse: cf. OF. esciter, exciter, F. exciter. See Cite.] 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; as, to excite a person, the spirits, the passions; to excite a mutiny or insurrection; to excite heat by friction.

2. (Physiol.) To call forth or increase the vital activity of an organism, or any of its parts.

Syn. -- To incite; awaken; animate; rouse or arouse; stimulate; inflame; irritate; provoke. -- To Excite, Incite. When we excite we rouse into action feelings which were less strong; when we incite we spur on or urge forward to a specific act or end. 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 love of liberty, but hopes of plunder.

Ex*cite"ful (?), n. Full of exciting qualities; as, an exciteful story; exciteful players. Chapman.

Ex*cite"ment (?) n. [Cf. OF. excitement, escitement.] 1. The act of exciting, or the state of being roused into action, or of having increased action; impulsion; agitation; as, an excitement of the people.

2. That which excites or rouses; that which moves, stirs, or induces action; a motive.

The cares and excitements of a season of transition and struggle.

Talfowrd.

3. (Physiol.) A state of aroused or increased vital activity in an organism, or any of its organs or tissues.

Ex*cit"er (?), n. One who, or that which, excites.

Hope is the grand exciter of industry.

Dr. H. More.

Ex*cit"ing, a. Calling or rousing into action; producing excitement; as, exciting events; an exciting story. -- Ex*cit"ing*ly, adv.