[ad. L. stimulātiōnem, n. of action f. stimulāre to STIMULATE. Cf. F. stimulation (14–15th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), Sp. estimulacion, Pg. estimulação, It. stimolazione.] The action of stimulating or condition of being stimulated.
1. A pricking, goading or spurring on to action; incitement; † pricking or compunction of conscience (obs.).
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 263. Ye stimulacyons of the flesshe.
1640. Ld. Digby, Sp., in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 171. The Danger, when either true, or pretended Stimulation of Conscience hath once given a multitude Agitation.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 145, ¶ 5. That industry which the stimulations of necessity … enforce.
1860. Mill, Repr. Govt. (1865), 27/2. To supply reasons to his understanding, and stimulation to his feeling.
1873. E. H. Clarke, Sex in Educ., 106. The same girls are apt to be quick,… and need not stimulation, but repression.
2. Phys. and Med. The action of a stimulus. a. Excitation to increased activity, quickening of some vital function or process (cf. STIMULUS 1). In quot. 1733 loosely, stimulating property (cf. STIMULUS 1 b). b. Excitation of an organ or tissue to its specific activity (cf. STIMULUS 3).
1733. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, II. vii. § 2 (1734), 186. The Bile, by its natural Acrimony and Stimulation [etc.].
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 217. The vaccine poison … produces inflammation, a little tumour, and sometimes pustule, which are not the effects of the specific stimulation of the matter.
1834. J. Forbes, Laennec’s Dis. Chest (ed. 4), 373. The stimulation communicated to or subtracted from the brain by the light.
1843. R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xv. 183. We should resort to stimulation by wine.
1879. Carpenter, Ment. Phys., App. 719. Muscles … can be thrown into contraction by stimulation of these lower centres.
1899. W. S. Hall, Text-bk. Physiol., 52. A muscle-cell responds to all stimuli by contracting, a gland-cell by secreting, while the stimulation of the optic nerve can only produce the sensation of light.
