[ad. L. exasperātiōn-em, n. of action f. exasperāre: see EXASPERATE v.]
1. Of a disease, etc.: Increase of violence or malignity; exacerbation; an instance of this.
1633. Wotton, Lett., in Reliq. Wott. (1672), 457. Judging, as of Patients in Feavers, by the exasperation of the fits.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., II. xlvi. 315. Shivering, and Exasperation of the Feaver … are not always to be accounted evil.
1860. Emerson, Cond. Life, Power, Wks. (Bohn), II. 334. The ecstasies of devotion with the exasperations of debauchery.
1884. in Syd. Soc. Lex.
2. The action of exasperating or provoking to anger; embittering; intense provocation; an instance of this. Also, a cause or means of exasperating.
a. 1631. Donne, in Selections (1840), 38. Forbearing all … exasperations by odious names of subdivision.
1676. Owen, Worship of God, 172. That he may take no occasion thereby for the exasperation of his own spirit.
1728. Woodward, Fossils, 31 (J.). Their ill Usage and Exasperations of him … disposed him to take that Liberty.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., 58–9. He had made ties for himself which … were a constant exasperation.
3. The condition of being exasperated or intensely irritated; exasperated feeling, violent passion or anger; † an instance of this.
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., xxxii. (1870), 205. Saying … that … I wold set them by the fete … wyth other wordes I had to them of exasperacyon.
1612–5. Bp. Hall, Contempl. O. T., XIX. iv. (1625), 1368. Neither the furious purposes of Ahaziah, nor the exasperations of a Iezebel can hurt that Prophet.
1672. Owen, Evang. Love, 43. Divisions and Schisms, and mutual Exasperations among themselves.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1774), X. ix. 282. Perhaps … it was a word extorted from him by the exasperation of his spirits.
1817. Bentham, Parl. Ref. Catech., Introd. 56. Should the only remedy be refused [and] oppression continue … then it is not quiet sense that will speak, but exasperation.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., IV. xviii. 13. The exasperation of the people with the English increased the cordiality with which he was received.
† 4. Exaggeration (in a bad sense); ‘malignant representation’ (J.). = AGGRAVATION 5. Obs. rare.
1648. Eikon Bas., § 3. 12. An act which My enemies loaded with all the obloquies and exasperations they could.
1755. in Johnson; whence 1818 in Todd.
¶ 5. Punningly, Misplaced ‘aspiration.’
1854. ‘C. Bede,’ Verdant Green, II. ix. 80. With a footman’s bow, and a footman’s hexasperation of his h’s.
