Exhilarate

Origin

From Latin exhilarare ("to gladden, make merry, delight"), from ex ("from") + hilarare ("to cheer up, gladden"), from hilaris ("glad").

Full definition of exhilarate

Verb

1. (archaic) To make happy, cheer up; to gladden.Good news exhilarates the mind; wine exhilarates the drinker.
• 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, II.2.4:Many such tricks are ordinarily put in practice by great men, to exhilarate themselves and others, all which are harmless jests, and have their good uses.
2. To thrill refreshingly.
3. To bring new life to.

Related terms

• exhilaration
• hilarious
• Hilary