Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Inducing enthusiasm or excitement; stirring.
  • adjective Lively; vigorous.
  • adjective Used as an intensive.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A method of curing herring; roiling. See rouse, transitive verb, 6.
  • Having power to rouse, excite, or astonish; surprisingly great, swift, violent, forcible, lively, or the like: as, a rousing fire; a rousing pace; a rousing meeting; a rousing lie or oath.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Having power to awaken or excite; exciting.
  • adjective colloq. Very great; violent; astounding.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective That rouses or excites
  • verb Present participle of rouse.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the act of arousing
  • adjective rousing to activity or heightened action as by spurring or goading
  • adjective capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Leila Abu Saba posts a statement by Israeli activist, Shulamit Aloni, read at the Saturday Gaza protest, which she described as a rousing speech.

    A Rousing Speech at Gaza 2008

  • Anyone who can preach what you call rousing sermons is considered

    The Seaboard Parish, Complete George MacDonald 1864

  • Nor could he wait the hour designated; for he was fifteen minutes ahead of time in rousing his guest.

    To The Man on the Trail 2010

  • Jan. 8th, 2010 04: 06 pm (UTC) "The emotions rise from the subtext and take center-stage in rousing number after number until my ability to respond to rousing music kind of numbed out ..."

    Ragtime deliasherman 2010

  • The emotions rise from the subtext and take center-stage in rousing number after number until my ability to respond to rousing music kind of numbed out -- although that may have been because I found the music bland -- except for those based most directly on actual ragtime, which were much fresher than the over-wrought ballads and anthems of the rest.

    Ragtime deliasherman 2010

  • Nor could he wait the hour designated; for he was fifteen minutes ahead of time in rousing his guest.

    TO THE MAN ON THE TRAIL 2010

  • People, normally who at this early afternoon hour are just now rousing from the midday sun-induced stupor, seem today to have been infected with some the electricity crackling through the air and scamper about trying finish up any last business.

    First Rains « Cameroon 2008

  • Tiger Woods, who won the last two PGA Championships in rousing fashion, is at an unassuming 1-under par and won't challenge for the title this year.

    USATODAY.com - Bumbling Tiger showing only glimpses of former self 2001

  • Toledo opened the Tom Amstutz era in rousing fashion as Chester

    NCAA Football - Minnesota vs. Toledo 2001

  • Inman's eyes and the long wound at his neck drew them, and the sound of their wings and the touch of their feet were soon more potent than a yardful of roosters in rousing a man to wake.

    Excerpt: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier 1997

Comments

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  • Ruzuzu: note the CD citation regarding herring. Can't comment on your herring list or profile in Wordnik's current state.

    September 15, 2011

  • Thank you, hernesheir! *added*

    September 15, 2011