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Verb

rouse (third-person singular simple present rouses, present participle rousing, simple past and past participle roused)

1. (transitive) To cause (something) to be (more) active or to move; to agitate, to stir up.
   • Thee water is rowſed, they [two serpents] do friſke with floũce [flounce] to yͤ ſhoare ward, / Thee land with ſtaring eyes bluddy and firie beholding: […]1582, “The Second Booke of Virgil His Æneis”, in Richard Stanyhurst, transl., The First Foure Bookes of Virgils Æneis, […], London: […] Henrie Bynneman […], published 1583, →OCLC, page 27
   1. (transitive) To stir (a liquid, especially (brewing) beer in the brewing process).
2. (transitive) To provoke (someone) to react (for example, in anger or annoyance); to spur; also, to annoy, to tease.
   • This day is called the day of Cryſpin, / He that outliues this day, and ſees old age, / Shall ſtand a tiptoe vvhen this day is named, / And rovvſe him at the name of Cryſpin.1599 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Cronicle History of Henry the Fift, […] (First Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Tho[mas] Millington, and Iohn Busby […], published 1600, →OCLC...

   Synonyms:

   inflame, set off, affront, aggravate, anger, antagonize, awrath, burn up, cheese off, cross

3. (transitive) Originally chiefly followed by up: to cause (an emotional reaction, a feeling, etc.); to excite, to incite, to stir up.
   • to rouse the emotions or passions

   Synonyms:

   galvanize, inflame, stoke, animate, awaken, electrify, enflame, enkindle, enthrill, exagitate

4. (transitive) Sometimes followed by up: to disturb (someone) from a state of apathy, comfort, etc.
   • But it [trial by jury] needs only to be minutely examined, and properly valued, to rouze the nation to preſerve it unimpaired, for the benefit of the preſent generation, and that vve may tranſmit it to poſterity uncontaminated and undiminiſhed.1785, a country gentleman [pseudonym], “To the Right Honourable Earl Mansfield”, in William Jones, M[anasseh] Dawes, England’s Alarm! On the Prevailing Doctrine of Libels, as Laid down by the Earl of...
5. (also, reflexive, transitive) Sometimes followed by up: to wake (oneself or someone) from deep thought, or rest or sleep; to awaken.
   • VVhen vve be brought to this point that vve muſt be fayne to looke vnto God: vve begin after a ſort too rouze vp ourſelues, ſo as vvee be no more ſo careleſſe and drovvzie as vvee vvere: […]1574, Iohn Caluin [i.e., John Calvin], “The Nineteenth Sermon, which is the Thirde vppon the Fifth Chapter”, in Arthur Golding, transl., Sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, vpon the Booke of Iob. […]...

   Synonyms:

   bring round, roust, wake up, arouse, awake, awaken, cry, knock up, uprouse, wake

See all 34 meanings of rouse