\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.
Usage: 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 C[ae]sar, 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"\, v. t. (Elec.)
To energize (an electro-magnet); to produce a magnetic field
in; as, to excite a dynamo.