† eˈxagitate, v. Obs.
7 pa. pple. exagitat(e.
[f. L. exagitāt- ppl. stem of exagitā-re, f. ex- (see ex- prefix1) + agitā-re to put in motion, agitate.]
1. trans. To stir up (the humours, spirits, etc.); to quicken (the breathing); to set in motion (the blood); to excite.
| 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. ii. v, The divell..gets in with the aire, and exagitates our spirits, and vexeth our souls. 1651 Biggs New Disp. 155 The anxiety and powerfullest respiration of the arteries is exagitated. 1655 Culpepper, etc. Riverius xv. v. 419 Sharp Clysters..which do exagitate the Humor..whereby the Symptomes are wont to become more fiery. 1717 J. Keill Anim. Œcon. (1738) 294 A continual Heat..exagitated by the Temptations of the Town. 1727 Fielding Love in Sev. Masq. Wks. 1775 I. 20 It [business] has exagitated my complexion to that exorbitancy of Vermeile, that, etc. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet 328 The warm Air of the Bed exagitates the Blood. |
2. a. Of a disease, pain, etc.: To torment, worry.
b. Of a man's foes: To harass, persecute.
| a. 1532 in Burnet Hist. Ref. II. 168 Being so long sick and exagitate with this same sore. 1596 C. Fitzgeffrey Sir F. Drake (1881) 15 The paines that now exagitate his soule, Time cannot tame. 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 198 When..too much waking hath exagitated the mind. 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles II. iv. 32 When it [the soul] shal see and instil the desire of him into it self..it shal cease to be exagitated by pricking dolors. |
| b. 1602 T. Fitzherbert Defence 7 a, S. Chrisostome..was so exagitat by the calumnious, and contumelious tongues of heretykes..that, etc. 1618 T. Gainsford P. Warbeck in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793) 86 The king..not determining to give them battle, or exagitate them at all till, etc. a 1656 Hales Gold. Rem. (1688) 485 He was sorry Martinius should be so exagitated for a speech which..was true. |
3. To attack violently (a doctrine, error, fault, etc.); to inveigh against, rail at.
| 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. iii. (1632) 163 This their defect and imperfection I had rather lament in such case than exagitate. 1656 Trapp Comm. Eph. i. 5 The doctrine of predestination was much misused and exagitated. 1685 Baxter Paraphr. N.T. 1 Pet. iii. 8 Christians..live in concord, not exagitating, but compassionating each others infirmities. |
4. To debate, discuss.
| 1610 Donne Pseudo-Martyr 294 His last Title..we have no reason to exagitate in this place. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Jas. III, Wks. 43 During his abode at Rome, the old question..began to be exagitated. 1662 S. P. Acc. Latitude Men in Phenix II. 581 Tho this name of Latitude-Men be daily exagitated amongst us, both in Taverns and Pulpits. 1749 G. Lavington Enthus. Methodists & Pap. iii. (1751) 330 Aristophanes in such a free manner exagitates the mysterious solemnities. |
5. In etymological sense: To shake out.
rare.
| 1642 Answ. to Observ. agst. King 11 Traiterously exagitate and tosse the Royall Scepter out of his hand. |
Hence
† eˈxagitated ppl. a. † eˈxagitating ppl. a., producing agitation, disturbing.
| 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 578/1 A coacervate and exagitated Wind. 1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida iii. ii, Th' ensuing storms exagitated rage. 1662 S. P. Acc. Latitude-Men in Phenix (1708) II. 507 Having taken an impartial View of this so much exagitated Company of Men. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iv. ix. 200 In diseases of the chest..Hippocrates condemneth it [sneezing] as too much exagitating. |