v. Obs. 6–7, also 6 acite, acyte, assite. [ad. late L. accītāre, f. ac- = ad- to + cit-āre to summon; see CITE. The earlier forms seem to represent an OFr. derivative *aciter (not in Godef.).]
1. To summon, to call, to cite.
1506. W. de Worde, Ordinary of Crysten Men, IV. xxix. [328]. We be now acyted for to appere unto suche and soo meruayllous Iugement.
1524. S. Fish, Suppl. for Beggers, 3. Howe muche money get the somners … by assityng the people to the commissaryes court, and afterward releasing thapparaunce for money?
1600. Chapman, Iliad, XI. 595. Our heralds now accited all that were Endamag’d by the Elians.
1674. Milton, Declaration, etc., Wks. 1851, 465. His most noble Uncle Stanislaus … whom … Valour and youthful Heat accited at his own expence and private forces into the Tauric fields.
2. To cite (in writing), to quote.
a. 1631. Donne, Ess. (1651), 23. And Beasts who have often the honour to be our Reproach, accited for examples of vertue & wisdome in the Scriptures.
3. To arouse, to excite (with which word it was probably sometimes confounded).
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. ii. 64. And what accites your most worshipful thought to thinke so?
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Underwoods (1692), 563. What was there to accite So ravenous and vast an Appetite?
