electrifyv.
/ᵻˈlɛktrᵻfʌɪ/, U.S. /əˈlɛktrəˌfaɪ/, /iˈlɛktrəˌfaɪ/ 1.
a. transitive. To charge with electricity; to pass an electric current through; (formerly also) †to subject (a person) to an electric current or an electric shock for therapeutic purposes (obsolete).
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric charge, electricity > charge [verb (transitive)]
electrify1745
electrize1747
etherize1748
charge1749
electricize1854
1745 Philos. Trans. 1744–5 (Royal Soc.) 43 490 I procur'd an iron Bar..; this I electrified lying on Cakes of Wax and Resin.
1765 J. Wesley Jrnl. 26 Dec. (1827) III. 233 Being electrified morning and evening, my lameness mended.
1800 Philos. Mag. 7 337 Messieurs Landlani and Van Marum observed only hydrogenous gas by electrifying the carbonic acid gas.
1818 S. Ferrier Marriage x. 104 That old man has the palsy; why don't you electrify him?
1867 Proc. Royal Soc. 16 68 Its inductor electrifies negatively each drop of water breaking away..from the continuous uninsulated water above.
1935 C. J. Smith Intermediate Physics (ed. 2) v. xxxv. 579 If an ebonite rod is electrified by rubbing it with silk, it possesses the power of attracting small pith-balls.
1957 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 144/1 Lord Kelvin also devised an influence machine..for electrifying the ink in connection with his siphon recorder.
2000 M. Fletcher Silver Linings (2001) x. 282 He always threw the small ones back, and decried the methods of some modern-day ‘cowboy outfits’ who wipe out whole rivers with cyanide powder or electrify pools with generators.
b. transitive. To introduce electric power to (a railway line, farm, etc.); to convert to electric operation.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical power, electricity > distribution system > supply power to system [verb (transitive)] > introduce electricity
electrify1886
electrolize1892
1886 R. Luce Electric Railways & Electric Transmission of Power ii. 36 The trouble with his scheme,..and all the other electro-motors that have promised literally to electrify the world, was the comparatively high cost of getting electricity to run them.
1902 Times 31 Jan. 12/2 The District Railway would probably be ‘electrified’ within the next two years.
1923 National Geographic Apr. 356/2 The St. Clair Tunnel was electrified, with such success that under-river electrified tunnels became a matter of recognized engineering practice.
1970 Yankee (Dublin, New Hampsh.) Aug. 140 You can electrify a flat wick oil lamp with a Gyro Queen Converter.
1994 Magnet July 36/2 The demeanor of..an ex-folkie politely attempting to electrify her fret board.
1997 Rail 12 Mar. 11/3 Much of the route was resignalled when it was electrified in the late 1980s.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric charge, electricity > become charged [verb (intransitive)]
electrify1745
1745 Philos. Trans. 1744–5 (Royal Soc.) 43 490 Whilst the Bar was at one End electrifying, a Spoon lay upon the other.
3. transitive. figurative. To excite, arouse, or startle (a person), as if by an electric charge or shock. Also intransitive.
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the mind > emotion > excitement > exciting > excite [verb (transitive)]
astirc1000
stir?c1225
araisec1374
entalentc1374
flamec1380
reara1382
raisec1384
commove1393
kindlea1400
fluster1422
esmove1474
talent1486
heavec1540
erect?1555
inflame1560
to set on gog1560
yark1565
tickle1567
flesh1573
concitate1574
rouse1574
warmc1580
agitate1587
spirit1598
suscitate1598
fermentate1599
nettle1599
startle1602
worka1616
exagitate1621
foment1621
flush1633
exacuatea1637
ferment1667
to work up1681
pique1697
electrify1748
rattle1781
pump1791
to touch up1796
excite1821
to key up1835
to steam up1909
jazz1916
steam1922
volt1930
whee1949
to fire up1976
geek1984
1748 E. Moore Foundling ii. vi. 25 I can electrify her by a Look.
1794 W. Burke & E. Burke tr. J. P. Brissot To his Constituents 72 Those heights of courage which electrify an army, and ensure victory.
1838 J. H. Ingraham Burton I. 184 The touch of his bold lip electrified her.
1859 N.Y. Times 20 July 4/2 The woes of a gallant people [sc. the Hungarians] after electrifying Senates and moving Presidential candidates to tears, finally culminated in a new shape for hats.
1930 E. Ferber Cimarron 300 She was the first to electrify the ladies of the Twentieth Century Culture Club by serving them Waldorf salad.
1963 Times 13 Dec. 10/7 In many passages it electrifies as in the first duel..when the two enemies circle about one another uttering threats like sensual caresses.
1999 S. Rushdie Ground beneath her Feet (2000) xi. 339 She'd electrify her young audiences by surging out of anecdote into heart-stopping..renderings of gospel songs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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