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rouse

rouse 1[rouz] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin verb (used with object), roused, rous·ing.

to bring out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, fancied security, apathy, depression, etc.: He was roused to action by courageous words.
to stir or incite to strong indignation or anger.
to cause (game) to start from a covert or lair.
Nautical. to pull by main strength; haul.

verb (used without object), roused, rous·ing.

to come out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity, apathy, depression, etc.
to start up from a covert or lair, as game.

noun

a rousing.
a signal for rousing; reveille.

Origin of rouse 1 1480–90 in sense “(of a hawk) to shake the feathers”; 1525–35 for def 3; origin uncertainRelated formsrous·ed·ness [rou-zid-nis] /ˈraʊ zɪd nɪs/, nounrous·er, nounun·roused, adjectiveSynonyms for rouse 1. arouse, stir, excite, animate, stimulate, awaken, kindle, inflame, fire. 2. provoke, anger.Synonym study 1, 2. See incite. Antonyms for rouse 1, 2. lull, calm, pacify. Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Examples from the Web for rouser Historical Examples of rouser

“An’ so you’re goin’ to put my father down on the black list,” said the beetle-browed son of the Rouser.

Fardorougha, The Miser

William Carleton

Our boys woke up early next morning, for a chill wind sweeping over Swarta Stack was as effectual a rouser as the dressing-bell.

Viking Boys

Jessie Margaret Edmondston Saxby

The men responded with a faint cheer—they were too much exhausted for “a rouser.”

North-Pole Voyages

Zachariah Atwell Mudge

After this “rouser,” as he called it, he sat down again, and almost immediately fell fast asleep.

Blown to Bits

R.M. Ballantyne

After this “rouser,” as he called it, he sat down again, and almost immediately fell fast asleep.

Blown to Bits

Robert Michael Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for rouser rouser noun

1. a person or thing that rouses people, such as a stirring speech or compelling rock song
2. (in combination)rabble-rouser

rouse 1 verb

to bring (oneself or another person) out of sleep, unconsciousness, etc, or (of a person) to come to consciousness in this way
(tr) to provoke, stir, or exciteto rouse someone’s anger
rouse oneself to become active or energetic
hunting to start or cause to start from coverto rouse game birds
(intr) falconry (of hawks) to ruffle the feathers and cause them to stand briefly on end (a sign of contentment)
(raʊs) (intr foll by on) Australian to speak scoldingly or rebukingly (to)

noun

mainly US another term for reveille

Derived Formsrousedness (ˈraʊzɪdnɪs), nounWord Origin for rouse C15 (in sense 5): origin obscure rouse 2 noun archaic

an alcoholic drink, esp a full measure
another word for carousal

Word Origin for rouse C17: probably a variant of carouse (as in the phrase drink a rouse, erroneous for drink carouse); compare Danish drikke en rus to become drunk, German Rausch drunkenness Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for rouser n.

1610s, agent noun from rouse (v.).

rouse v.

mid-15c., intransitive probably from Anglo-French or Old French reuser, ruser, originally used in English of hawks shaking the feathers of the body, but like many hawking terms it is of obscure origin. Figurative meaning “to stir up, provoke to activity” is from 1580s; that of “awaken” is first recorded 1590s. Related: Roused; rousing.