incit

a. [ L. incitans, -antis, p. pr. of incitare. See Incite. ] Inciting; stimulating. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. incitatio: cf. F. incitation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of inciting or moving to action. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which incites to action; that which rouses or prompts; incitement; motive; incentive. [ 1913 Webster ]

The noblest incitation to honest attempts. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A provocative; an incitant; a stimulant. [ R. ] Jervas. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Incited p. pr. & vb. n. Inciting. ] [ L. incitare; pref. in- in + citare to rouse, stir up: cf. F. inciter. See Cite. ] To move to action; to stir up; to rouse; to spur or urge on. [ 1913 Webster ]

Anthiochus, when he incited Prusias to join in war, set before him the greatness of the Romans. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

No blown ambition doth our arms incite. Shak.

Syn. -- Excite; stimulate; instigate; spur; goad; arouse; move; urge; rouse; provoke; encourage; prompt; animate. See Excite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. incitement. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of inciting. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which incites the mind, or moves to action; motive; incentive; impulse. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

From the long records of a distant age,
Derive incitements to renew thy rage. Pope.

Syn. -- Motive; incentive; spur; stimulus; impulse; encouragement. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, incites. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to incite or stimulate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. incitus incited + E. motor. ] (Physiol.) Inciting to motion; -- applied to that action which, in the case of muscular motion, commences in the nerve centers, and excites the muscles to contraction. Opposed to excito-motor. [ 1913 Webster ]