v. Forms: 7–8 exhilerate, (6 -arite), 6– exhilarate. [ad. L. exhilarāt- ppl. stem of exhilarāre, f. ex- (see EX- pref.1) + hilar-is cheerful: see HILARITY.]
1. trans. To make cheerful or merry; to cheer, enliven, gladden (a person, his spirits, etc.).
1540. Morysine, Vives’ Introd. Wysd., E vj b. A cleane and a pure conscience maye exhilarate the mynde.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. VI. iii. Sundry are the meanes … to exhilerate a sorrowfull heart.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), II. xxxviii. 22. Peregrine … advised him to exhilarate his spirits with a glass of wine.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Ess., 36. He would be exhilarated at the sight of the first beggar that he saw.
1796. C. Marshall, Garden., xx. (1813), 426. Frost … exhilarates our spirits.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxxvi. It seemed greatly to delight and exhilarate him to say so.
b. To impart cheerfulness to, enliven (a thing or pursuit).
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 177, ¶ 5. A select company of curious men, who met once a week to exhilarate their studies.
1795. Anderson, Embassy China, 274. A joyous dinner, exhilarated by plenty of spirits.
† 2. intr. To become cheerful. Obs. rare–1.
1620. Bacon, Sp. in Parl., in Lett. & Life (1874), VII. 177. The shining of the sun, whereby all things exhilarate, is hindered by clouds.
