ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rouse

v.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɹaʊs// UK //ɹˈaʊz// rouse Archaic Slang

v. to wake someone up from a deep sleep or to make someone feel excited and ready to take action.

v. to awaken someone from sleep or to stir someone into a state of activity or strong emotion.


SIMPLE

The loud alarm clock failed to rouse him from his sleep.

CONTEXTUAL

The captain's speech was designed to rouse the tired soldiers before the final march.

COMPLEX

It took several minutes for the medics to rouse the unconscious driver, who had been stunned by the force of the collision but fortunately suffered no permanent injuries.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English rousen, from Anglo-Norman reuser, ruser, originally used in English of hawks shaking the feathers of the body, from Latin recūsō, by loss of the medial 'c.' Doublet of recuse. Figurative meaning “to stir up, provoke to activity” is from 1580s; that of “awaken” is first recorded 1590s.

Etymology 2

First attested in the late 16th Century. From carouse, from rebracketing of the phrase “drink carouse” as “drink a rouse”.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; it can be used both literally for sleep and figuratively for emotions.

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