v. [f. L. stimulāt-, ppl. stem of stimulāre, f. stimulus: see STIMULUS. Cf. F. stimuler (14th c.), Sp., Pg. estimular, It. stimolare.]
† 1. trans. To prick, sting, afflict. Obs. rare–1.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 57. Kyng Henry … euer punched, stimulated and pricked with the scrupulous stynges of domesticall sedicion.
2. To rouse to action or exertion as by pricking or goading; to spur on; to incite (a person) to do something; to impart additional energy to (an activity, a process).
1619. Hutton, Follie’s Anat., etc. D 6. My … distemperd thoughts, Do stimulate proud Silla’s Ire.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 27 Feb. 1644–5. The 3 races of the Barbarie horses, that run … without riders, onely having spurrs so placed on their backs,… as by their motion to stimulate them.
1759. Hume, Hist. Eng., Hen. VIII., iii. I. 147. Hearing of the pope’s captivity, they were farther stimulated to undertake the war with vigour for the restoring his liberty.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 526. The pricks of conscience will not so much afflict and torment us, as stimulate our resolution and excite our diligence.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, V. ix. II. 694. They … stimulated and importuned him, to bring forward a scheme or improvement.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Hill & Valley, v. 77. To stimulate production by useful … labour.
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Black Veil. To … stimulate him to fresh exertions.
1842. Lever, J. Hinton, xviii. You have stimulated my curiosity.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, II. xxii. They … stimulated their prisoners to beg.
absol. 1789. J. Moore, Zeluco, lxviii. (1797), II. 188. Contemptuous language may stimulate to … revenge.
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, v. Where Miss Taylor failed to stimulate,… Harriet Smith will do nothing.
3. Phys. To act as a stimulus to (see STIMULUS 1, 3). a. To excite (an organ) to increased activity, to quicken the action or function of. Also with the action or function as obj.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 201. In general we use Medicines of the same Taste, as the secreted Humours, to stimulate their Excretion.
1798. R. Jackson, Hist. & Cure Fever, 260. Wine, brandy and opium stimulate the system to increased action.
1809. Med. Jrnl., XXI. 103. Oxygen stimulates the pulmonic vessels, and … makes them propel their contents.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xi. 119. I frequently prescribe small doses of hydrargyrum cum cretâ, with the view of gently stimulating the liver.
absol. 1662. J. Degravere, Thesaurus Remediorum (ed. 2), 16. Signes indicating Purgation…. A looseness or flux of humors stimulating to expulsion.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, in Aliments, etc. 261. Things which stimulate in the extreme Degree, excite pain.
1842. Abdy, Water Cure, 75. With bandages, put on tight to stimulate, upon the whole limb.
b. To excite (a tissue or structure) to its specific activity.
1878. Roy, in Jrnl. Physiol., I. 475. When the muscle was stimulated directly by the induced current.
4. To administer stimulants to.
1905. Brit. Med. Jrnl., No. 2317. 1139. No one familiar with infectious diseases would systematically stimulate all cases.
b. intr. for refl. To indulge in (alcoholic) stimulants. Now only colloq. (? U.S.) Also in passive, To be affected by alcoholic drinks.
1800. Med. Jrnl., III. 50. Men of strong constitutions began to stimulate in excess very early in life.
1839. Marryat, Diary Amer., Ser. I. II. 224. [Examples of American language.] He stimulates too much.
1882. E. O’Donovan, Merv Oasis, I. 449. A servant brought in a silver tray, upon which were large glasses of … arrack…. We were all slightly stimulated before a move was made towards the dinner table.
1898. Talmage, Serm., in Chr. Herald (N.Y.), 30 March, 268/4. Now he must brace himself up. Now he stimulates.
Hence Stimulated ppl. a.
1887. Burdon-Sanderson, etc. Transl. For. Biol. Mem., I. 255. The tract of nerve lying between the stimulating electrodes I call the stimulated region. Ibid., 273. Electrical phenomena in stimulated nerves.
1899. W. S. Hall, Text-bk. Physiol., 52. The action of stimuli is more or less transient—i. e., the stimulated organism returns after a short period, more or less completely, to its former state of rest.
