Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
irritate

more about irritate

irritate

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Irritate  \Ir"ri*tate\,  v.  t.  [See  1  st  {Irritant}.] 
  To  render  null  and  void.  [R.]  --Abp.  Bramhall. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Irritate  \Ir"ri*tate\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Irritated};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Irritating}.]  [L.  irritatus  p.  p.  of  irritare.  Of 
  doubtful  origin.] 
  1.  To  increase  the  action  or  violence  of  to  heighten 
  excitement  in  to  intensify;  to  stimulate. 
 
  Cold  maketh  the  spirits  vigorous  and  irritateth 
  them  --Bacon. 
 
  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. 
 
  Dismiss  the  man,  nor  irritate  the  god:  Prevent  the 
  rage  of  him  who  reigns  above.  --Pope. 
 
  3.  (Physiol.)  To  produce  irritation  in  to  stimulate;  to 
  cause  to  contract.  See  {Irritation},  n.,  2. 
 
  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Irritate  \Ir"ri*tate\,  a. 
  Excited;  heightened.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  irritate 
  v  1:  cause  annoyance  in  disturb,  esp.  by  minor  irritations: 
  "Mosquitoes  buzzing  in  my  ear  really  bothers  me";  "It 
  irritates  me  that  she  never  closes  the  door  after  she 
  leaves"  [syn:  {annoy},  {rag},  {get  to},  {bother},  {get 
  at},  {rile},  {nark},  {nettle},  {gravel},  {vex},  {devil}] 
  2:  cause  to  be  in  a  worse  state;  "Aspirin  irritates  my  stomach" 
  [ant:  {soothe}]




more about irritate