Irritate

Irritate
Irritate Ir"ri*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Irritated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Irritating}.] [L. irritatus, p. p. of irritare. Of doubtful origin.] [1913 Webster] 1. To increase the action or violence of; to heighten excitement in; to intensify; to stimulate. [1913 Webster]

Cold maketh the spirits vigorous and irritateth them. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

2. To excite anger or displeasure in; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate; to annoy; to vex; as, the insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects. [1913 Webster]

Dismiss the man, nor irritate the god: Prevent the rage of him who reigns above. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3. (Physiol.) To produce irritation in; to stimulate; to cause to contract. See {Irritation}, n., 2. [1913 Webster]

4. (Med.) To make morbidly excitable, or oversensitive; to fret; as, the skin is irritated by friction; to irritate a wound by a coarse bandage.

Syn: To fret; inflame; excite; provoke; tease; vex; exasperate; anger; incense; enrage.

Usage: To {Irritate}, {Provoke}, {Exasperate}. These words express different stages of excited or angry feeling. Irritate denotes an excitement of quick and slightly angry feeling which is only momentary; as, irritated by a hasty remark. To provoke implies the awakening of some open expression of decided anger; as, a provoking insult. Exasperate denotes a provoking of anger at something unendurable. Whatever comes across our feelings irritates; whatever excites anger provokes; whatever raises anger to a high point exasperates. ``Susceptible and nervous people are most easily irritated; proud people are quickly provoked; hot and fiery people are soonest exasperated.'' --Crabb. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • irritate — [ir′i tāt΄] vt. irritated, irritating [< L irritatus, pp. of irritare, to excite, stimulate, irritate < ir , in + IE base * erei , to excite, agitate > ROAM] 1. to excite to anger; provoke; annoy; exasperate 2. to cause (an organ or part …   English World dictionary

  • irritate — [v1] upset, anger abrade, affront, aggravate, annoy, bother, bug*, burn*, chafe, confuse, distemper, disturb, drive up the wall*, enrage, exasperate, fret, gall, get, get on nerves*, get under skin*, grate, harass, incense, inflame, infuriate,… …   New thesaurus

  • Irritate — Ir ri*tate, a. Excited; heightened. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Irritate — Ir ri*tate, v. t. [See 1 st {Irritant}.] To render null and void. [R.] Abp. Bramhall. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • irritate — I verb affront, aggravate, agitate, anger, annoy, badger, bother, bully, chafe, discompose, displease, disturb, enrage, exacerbate, exasperate, excite anger, excite impatience, fret, gall, give offense, grate, harass, hector, incense, inflame,… …   Law dictionary

  • irritate — (v.) 1530s, stimulate to action, rouse, incite, from L. irritatus, pp. of irritare excite, provoke. An earlier verb form was irrite (mid 15c.), from O.Fr. irriter. Meaning annoy, make impatient is from 1590s. Related: Irritated; irritating …   Etymology dictionary

  • irritate — irritate, exasperate, nettle, provoke, aggravate, rile, peeve are comparable when meaning to excite a feeling of angry annoyance in a person. Something which irritates greatly displeases or offends and evokes a display of feeling ranging from… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • irritate — ► VERB 1) make annoyed or angry. 2) cause inflammation in (a part of the body). DERIVATIVES irritating adjective irritation noun. ORIGIN Latin irritare …   English terms dictionary

  • irritate — irritator, n. /ir i tayt /, v., irritated, irritating. v.t. 1. to excite to impatience or anger; annoy. 2. Physiol., Biol. to excite (a living system) to some characteristic action or function. 3. Pathol. to bring (a body part) to an abnormally… …   Universalium

  • irritate */ — UK [ˈɪrɪteɪt] / US [ˈɪrɪˌteɪt] verb [transitive] Word forms irritate : present tense I/you/we/they irritate he/she/it irritates present participle irritating past tense irritated past participle irritated 1) to make someone feel annoyed or… …   English dictionary

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