Meaning of incite in English

Table of contents

Verb
incite
Etymology
late 15th century (earlier (late Middle English) as incitation): from French inciter, from Latin incitare, from in-‘towards’ + citare‘rouse’
Definitions
1. give an incentive for action
Examples
- « This moved me to sacrifice my career »
Derived terms
2. provoke or stir up
Examples
- « incite a riot »
- « set off great unrest among the people »
Derived terms
3. urge on
Examples
- « cause to act »
- « They other children egged the boy on, but he did not want to throw the stone through the window »
Derived terms

Famous quotes

« It has too often been too easy for rulers and governments to incite man to war. »
Lester B. Pearson
« In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. The young they keep out of mischief to the old they are a comfort and aid in their weakness, and those in the prime of life they incite to noble deeds. »
Aristotle
« The learning process is something you can incite, literally incite, like a riot. »
Audre Lorde
« Dreams come true without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them. »
John Updike