excite

Where does the word "excite" come from? It comes from Latin excitare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Excite’s story begins in Latin: excitare meant “to rouse, call out.” 'ex-' plus 'citare', to set in motion. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as exciter. Latin 'excitare' meant to call out or summon forth; the emotional sense 'to agitate' dates only from 1821. It reached English by 1300s as excite. 'exciting' as thrilling dates from the 1800s. Today, excite means to cause strong feelings of enthusiasm.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient excitare "to rouse, call out", 'ex-' plus 'citare', to set in motion.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval exciter "to rouse", Latin 'excitare' meant to call out or summon forth; the emotional sense 'to agitate' dates only from 1821.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s excite "to stir up", 'exciting' as thrilling dates from the 1800s.