[f. EXCITE v. + -MENT. First used in sense 3 (= L. irritamentum) which is the only sense recognized by Johnson.]
1. The action of exciting; the fact of being excited; = EXCITATION. Somewhat rare.
1830. Sir J. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., II. ii. (1851), 89. The excitement and propagation of motion.
1840. Mill, Diss. & Disc. (1859), I. 116, note. Experience … must precede the excitement of any ideas in the mind.
2. Excited state or condition.
a. Path. A state of abnormal activity in any organ. † Also, in the ‘Brunonian’ physiology, the effects resulting from the presence of the vital principle in the organism.
1788. J. Brown, trans. Elem. Med., § 16. The effect of the exciting powers, acting upon the excitability, is to be denominated Excitement [Latin 1780 Incitatio].
1793. Beddoes, Consumption, 148. Diseases of excitement on the one hand, and debility on the other.
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 452. The greatest degree of excitement, consistent with life, may be communicated by this agent [electric fluid]. Ibid. (1801), V. 82. An addition … to that just degree of excitement which constitutes health.
b. Stimulation, titillation (of the senses).
1823. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. xxii. No possible taste or odour … can convey a delicate excitement comparable to this mixture.
c. In recent use: The condition of being mentally excited, whether by pleasurable or painful emotion. Cf. EXCITE v. 5.
1846. Trench, Miracles, vi. (1862), 185. Men in their thirst for excitement … have a kind of pleasure in being the bearers even of evil tidings.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxii. 152. He approached me with some excitement of manner.
1864. J. H. Newman, Apologia, 156. The excitement it [Tractarianism] caused in England.
3. Something that excites; a means of exciting.
† a. Something that tends to excite (a feeling); a motive or incentive to action; an exhortation, encouragement. Obs. or arch.
1604. Shaks., Ham., IV. iv. 58 (Qq.). A father kill’d, a mother stain’d, Excitements of my reason, and my blood.
1633. May, Hen. II., VII. 79. Excitements every where From Pulpits sounded in the peoples eare, To aid their brother-Christians.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xvi. 112. Rather are diligent lads to be encouraged with all excitements to Learning.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. v. Wks. 1874, I. 89. Perception of danger is a natural excitement of passive fear, and active caution.
1741. Warburton, Div. Legat., IX. ii. (1846), 373. The General encouraging his followers, by all the usual excitements to do their duty.
1817. Coleridge, Lay Serm., 420. In any half dozen sermons of … Jeremy Taylor, there are … more excitements to inquiry … than are presented to the congregations of the present day … during twice as many months.
1858. De Quincey, Autobiog. Sk., Wks. I. 239. Each … had yet its own separate occasions and excitements.
b. In physical sense.
1862. Darwin, Fertiliz. Orchids, iv. 153. I suspect that it does explode … without the excitement of a touch.
c. An occasion of mental excitement.
1878. R. W. Dale, Lect. Preach., vii. 186. Their knowledge brings them some noble excitements and satisfactions.
