excited
UK[ɪkˈsaɪtɪd]US[ɪkˈsaɪtɪd]
adj
feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm
adj
(of an atom, etc.) having more than the normal energy
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
cit
ed
ex
out
cit
set in motion
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'excited' originates from the latin verb 'excitare', a frequentative form of 'exciere', meaning 'to call forth, to arouse'. this verb is composed of the prefix 'ex-' (out) and the root 'ciere' (to set in motion, to call). the literal sense is 'to call out' or 'to stir up'. the modern english adjective, formed by adding the participial suffix '-ed', retains this core idea of being stirred up or aroused, now primarily describing a state of emotional or mental stimulation, and secondarily a state of heightened physical energy in scientific contexts.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + cit (set in motion) + ed (adjective suffix)
ex- (latin prefix, meaning 'out'); cit (latin root, from 'citare', meaning 'to set in motion, to rouse'); -ed (english suffix, forming participial adjectives)
Examples
the children were excited about going to the zoo.
she was too excited to sleep before her first day at the new job.
the laser works by striking an excited atom with a photon.