v. Obs. 7 pa. pple. exagitat(e. [f. L. exagitāt- ppl. stem of exagitā-re, f. ex- (see EX- pref.1) + 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. i. 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. Oecon. (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. Fitz-Geffrey, Sir F. Drake (1881), 15. The paines that now exagitate his soule, Time cannot tame.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 198. When in long Feavers 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 b. S. Chrisostome … was so exagitat by the calumnious, and contumelious tongues of heretykes … that [etc.].
1618. T. Gainsford, P. Warbeck, in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 86/1. 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. 756. 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. Drumm. of Hawth., 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. Bp. 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 † Exagitated ppl. a. † Exagitating 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.
