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View synonyms for rouse

rouse

1

[ rouz ]

verb (used with object)

, roused, rous·ing.
  1. to bring out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, fancied security, apathy, depression, etc.:

    He was roused to action by courageous words.

    Synonyms: inflame, kindle, awaken, stimulate, animate, excite, stir, arouse

    Antonyms: pacify, calm, lull

  2. to stir or incite to strong indignation or anger.

    Synonyms: anger, provoke

  3. to cause (game) to start from a covert or lair.
  4. Nautical Now Rare. to pull by main strength; haul.


verb (used without object)

, roused, rous·ing.
  1. to come out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, apathy, depression, etc.
  2. to start up from a covert or lair, as game.

noun

  1. a rousing.
  2. a signal for rousing; reveille.

rouse

2

[ rouz ]

noun

  1. Archaic. a carouse.
  2. Obsolete. a bumper of liquor.

rouse

1

/ raʊz; ˈraʊzɪdnɪs /

verb

  1. to bring (oneself or another person) out of sleep, unconsciousness, etc, or (of a person) to come to consciousness in this way
  2. tr to provoke, stir, or excite

    to rouse someone's anger

  3. rouse oneself
    rouse oneself to become active or energetic
  4. hunting to start or cause to start from cover

    to rouse game birds

  5. intr falconry (of hawks) to ruffle the feathers and cause them to stand briefly on end (a sign of contentment)
  6. raʊs intrfoll byon to speak scoldingly or rebukingly (to)


noun

  1. another term for reveille

rouse

2

/ raʊz /

noun

  1. an alcoholic drink, esp a full measure
  2. another word for carousal

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Derived Forms

  • rousedness, noun

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Other Words From

  • rous·ed·ness [rou, -zid-nis], noun
  • rouser noun
  • un·roused adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of rouse1

First recorded in 1425–75 in sense “(of a hawk) to shake the feathers”; 1525–35 rouse 1fordef 3; origin uncertain

Origin of rouse2

First recorded in 1590–1600; perhaps variant of carouse ( drink carouse being wrongly analyzed as drink a rouse )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of rouse1

C15 (in sense 5): origin obscure

Origin of rouse2

C17: probably a variant of carouse (as in the phrase drink a rouse , erroneous for drink carouse ); compare Danish drikke en rus to become drunk, German Rausch drunkenness

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Synonym Study

See incite.

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Example Sentences

I am the only candidate who criticized Takis Karantonis for joining Arlington County Board in permitting the demolition of the historic Rouse estate and denying historic designation for the Civil War landmark site.

At last, a cause that could rouse it to action: defending the honor of campaign contributors.

They startle viewers, rouse viewers, occasionally put off and occasionally turn on viewers.

He said he had lunch with Pete Rouse, a longtime aide who came with him from the Senate.

By listening in on their conversation, we get to know the narrator, Asa Baker-Rouse, and the filmmaker, Bianca Giaever.

A world away, Kristen Rouse was finishing up a tour in Afghanistan as an Army officer.

Let us go up to Juda, and rouse it up, and draw it away to us, and make the son of Tabeel king in the midst thereof.

Mr. Mayne thought they should rouse the household at the first reputable looking dwelling they found.

They sent agents into the most degraded quarters of the city to rouse and direct the mob.

It will only rouse him up, and make him swear at normal graduates in general, and this one in particular.

Nothing could rouse him out of his tame civility, which had been taken more than once for obsequiousness.

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