exhilarate
UK: ɪɡˈzɪləreɪt | US: ɪɡˈzɪləreɪt
vt. to make someone feel very happy and energetic
vt. to invigorate or stimulate mentally or physically
exhilarate = ex<out> + hilar<cheerful> + ate<verb suffix>
- ex (Latin: "out")
- hilar (Latin: "cheerful," from Greek hilaros)
- ate (verb-forming suffix indicating action)
Etymology Origin:
The word "exhilarate" originates from Latin exhilarare, combining ex- (intensifying "out") and hilarare ("to cheer"). The root hilaros (Greek for "cheerful") evolved into Latin hilaris, retaining its joyful connotation. The suffix -ate standardizes it as a verb in English, preserving the original sense of "bringing out cheerfulness." The word’s logic reflects a literal "drawing out" of happiness, akin to lifting spirits.
The surprise party exhilarated her after a long week.
Mountain air always exhilarates hikers with its freshness.
His motivational speech exhilarated the team before the competition.
The roller coaster’s speed exhilarated the thrill-seekers.
Music has the power to exhilarate even the weariest minds.