Meaning of incite in English
Table of contents
Verb
inciteEtymology
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 actionExamples
- « 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