incite
UK[ɪnˈsaɪt]US[ɪnˈsaɪt]
v
to encourage somebody to do something violent, illegal, or unpleasant, especially by making them angry or excited
v
to cause or bring about an action or feeling
Morpheme Breakdown
in
cite
in
in, on
cite
rouse, call
Etymology
the word 'incite' entered english in the 15th century from the old french inciter, which itself derives from the latin incitare. this latin verb is a compound of the intensive prefix in- and the verb citare, meaning 'to set in motion, rouse, or summon'. citare is a frequentative form of ciēre, meaning 'to move, stir, call'. the core semantic thread from its proto-indo-european roots relates to setting things in motion. thus, the literal sense of 'to call or stir into action' evolved seamlessly into the modern abstract meaning of urging or provoking someone towards a specific, often forceful, course of action.
Analysis
Structure: in (in, on) + cite (rouse, call)
- in: a latin prefix meaning 'in, on, into, towards'. in this context, it acts as an intensifier.
- cite: from latin citare meaning 'to set in motion, rouse, call, summon'. it functions as the core root conveying the sense of stirring or calling forth.
Examples
the speaker's inflammatory rhetoric was accused of trying to incite violence among the crowd.
the unfair treatment served only to incite further resentment among the workers.
the government warned against using social media to incite panic during the crisis.