exhilarate
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ɪɡˈzɪləɹeɪt/, /ɛɡ-/
  • (GA) IPA: /ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/, /ɛɡ-/
  • (GA)
Verb

exhilarate (exhilarates, present participle exhilarating; past and past participle exhilarated)

  1. (transitive) To cheer#Verb|cheer, to cheer up, to gladden, to make happy.
    Good news exhilarates the mind; wine exhilarates the drinker.
    • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Musicke a Remedy”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 54573970 ↗, partition 2, section 2, member 6, subsection 3, page 276:
      Any and ſundry are the meanes, which Philoſophers and Phyſicians haue preſcribed to exhilarate a ſorrowfull heart, to diuert thoſe fixed and intent cares and meditations, which in this malady ſo much offend; but in my judgement none ſo preſent, none ſo powerfull, none ſo [a]ppoſite as a cup of ſtrong drinke, mirth, muſicke, and merry company.
  2. (transitive) To excite, to thrill#Verb|thrill.
    • 1932, Dorothy L Sayers, Have his Carcase, Chapter 12.
      Harriet became suddenly conscious that every woman in the room was gazing furtively or with frank interest at Wimsey and herself, and the knowledge exhilarated her.
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