exhilarate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To make someone feel very happy, excited, and full of energy.

   The fast downhill ski run exhilarated everyone in the group.

2. 2
   verb

   To cheer someone up and lift their mood.

   The good news exhilarated the whole team.

From Latin exhilarō (“to delight, to gladden, to make merry”), from ex- (“out, away”) (from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵʰs (“out”)) + hilarō (“to cheer, to gladden”), from hilaris (“cheerful, light-hearted, lively”), from Ancient Greek ἱλαρός (hilarós, “cheerful, merry”), from ἵλαος (hílaos, “gracious, kind, propitious”), from Proto-Indo-European *selh₂- (“comfort, mercy”). By surface analysis, ex- + Latin hilar(ō) + -ate.

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