Excitant: meaning, definitions and examples
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excitant
[ ษชkหsaษชtษnt ]
medical
A substance that excites or stimulates an organ, tissue, or part of the body.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- Scientists are researching the effects of different excitants on the central nervous system.
- The excitant caused an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
literary
Something that arouses interest, enthusiasm, or excitement.
Synonyms
inspiration, motivator, stimulus
Examples of usage
- The novel was an excitant for her passion for reading.
- His speech served as an excitant for social change.
obsolete
A person or thing that stimulates or provokes action or reaction.
Synonyms
incentive, inciter, instigator
Examples of usage
- In the past, poets were considered excitants of the imagination.
Word origin
The word 'excitant' originated from the Latin word 'excitare', which means 'to rouse, provoke'. It was first used in English around the 17th century. Over time, 'excitant' has been used in various contexts, including medical, literary, and obsolete descriptions. The term is commonly associated with substances that have stimulating effects on the body or things that arouse interest or enthusiasm.
See also: excitable, excite, excited, excitedly, excitement, exciting, excitingly, unexciting.