excitant

[ ik-sahyt-nt, ek-si-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. exciting; excite; stimulating.

noun

1. Physiology. something that excites; a stimulant.

excitant

/ ˈɛksɪtənt; ɪkˈsaɪtənt /

adjective

1. able to excite or stimulate

noun

1. something, such as a drug or other agent, able to excite; stimulant

Word History and Origins

Origin of excitant¹

1600–10; < Latin excitant- (stem of excitāns ), present participle of excitāre. See excite, -ant

Example Sentences

“Et c’est quelque chose d’extraordinairement excitant pour moi.”

From New York Times

Such action may be inhibitory or excitant, according to the views of the one or the other author, without affecting the main question as above stated.

From Project Gutenberg

The excitant is a dilute solution of sulphuric acid.

From Project Gutenberg

The full udder, under such circumstances, is a powerful excitant to the uterus: this is a well-known fact, and the consequence is, that if this natural excitant be withdrawn, the action of the process at once becomes diminished.

From Project Gutenberg

The Ainu are gentle and mild by nature, but, like all ignorant people, they are extremely superstitious, and superstition is a powerful excitant.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• desire
• feeling
• inclination
• influence
• instinct
• motivation
• motive
• notion
• passion
• thought
• whim
• wish