excite

/ik-ˈsīt/

Middle English, from Anglo-French exciter, from Latin excitare, from ex- + citare to rouse

verb

  1. to call to activity

  2. to rouse to an emotional response

  3. to arouse (something, such as a strong emotional response) by appropriate stimuli

scenes to excite the hardest man to pity

provoke excite stimulate pique quicken mean to arouse as if by pricking. provoke directs attention to the response called forth. excite implies a stirring up or moving profoundly.