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Webster 1913 Edition

Irritate

Ir′ri-tate

,
Verb.
T.
[See 1 st
Irritant
.]
To render null and void.
[R.]
Abp. Bramhall.

Ir′ri-tate

,
Verb.
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
,
Noun.
, 2.
Syn. – To fret; inflame; excite; provoke; tease; vex; exasperate; anger; incense; enrage.
– 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.

Ir′ri-tate

,
Adj.
Excited; heightened.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Irritate

IR'RITATE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. irrito; in and ira, wrath.]
1.
To excite heat and redness in the skin or flesh of living animal bodies, as by friction; to inflame; to fret; as, to irritate a wounded part by a coarse bandage.
2.
To excite anger; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate. Never irritate a child for trifling faults. The insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects.
3.
To increase action or violence; to highten excitement in.
Air, if very cold, irritateth the flame.
4.
To cause fibrous contractions in an extreme part of the sensorium, as by the appulse of an external body.

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