I.to set in rapid motion, to hasten, urge forwards; and with se, to put one's self in rapid motion, to hasten, rush (freq. and class.).
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: “vehementius equos incitare,” Caes. B. C. 2, 41, 4: “saxa per pronum,” Sall. H. 3, 22 Dietsch: “hastas,” Val. Fl. 1, 409: “stellarum motus tum incitantur, tum retardantur,” Cic. N. D. 2, 40, 103: “naves longas remis,” Caes. B. G. 4, 25, 1; cf.: “lintres magno sonitu remorum incitatae,” id. ib. 7, 60, 4: “navigio remis incitato,” id. ib. 3, 14, 6: “alii ex castris sese incitant,” sally out, id. B. C. 2, 14, 3; cf.: “cum ex alto se aestus incitavisset,” had rushed in, id. B. G. 3, 12, 1; and: “quo major vis aquae se incitavisset,” id. ib. 4, 17, 7: duabus ex partibus sese (naves) in eam (navem) incitaverant, id. B. C. 2, 6, 4; cf. id. ib. 3, 24, 3.—Prov.: incitare currentem, to spur a willing horse, i. e. to urge a person who does not need urging, Cic. Phil. 3, 8, 19; cf. id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 16; v. curro.—
B. In partic., to cause to grow larger, i. e. to augment, increase, to promote the growth of (not ante-Aug.; cf. “excito, I. B.): hibernis (Enipeus amnis) incitatus pluviis,” swollen, Liv. 44, 8, 6: “frequentibus fossuris terra permiscetur, ut incitari vitis possit,” Col. 4, 22, 3; 4, 33. fin.; 3, 21, 7.—
II. Trop., to incite, encourage, stimulate, rouse, excite, spur on.
A. In gen.: “aliquem imitandi cupiditate,” Cic. Brut. 92, 317: “quibus (causis) mentes aut incitantur aut reflectuntur,” id. de Or. 1, 32, 53: “animos, opp. sedare,” id. Or. 19, 63: “ipsum ingenium diligentia etiam ex tarditate incitat,” id. ib. 2, 35, 147: “quorum studio legendi meum scribendi studium in dies incitatur,” id. Div. 2, 2, 5: “quamquam ea incitatur in civitate ratio vivendi,” id. de Or. 3, 60, 226: “stultas cogitationes,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 10, 4: “quoniam ad hanc voluntatem ipsius naturae stimulis incitamur,” Cic. Rep. 1, 2 fin.; cf.: “juvenes ad studium et ad laborem,” id. de Or. 1, 61, 262: “aliquem ad servandum genus hominum,” id. Fin. 3, 20, 66: “multa Caesarem ad id bellum incitabant,” Caes. B. G. 3, 10, 1: “aliquem ad bellum atque arma,” Liv. 1, 27, 3: “aliquem ad amplissimam spem,” Suet. Caes. 7: “cujus voluptatis avidae libidines temere et effrenate ad potiundum incitarentur,” Cic. de Sen. 12, 39: “incitabant (animum ferocem) praeterea conrupti civitatis mores,” Sall. C. 5, 8: “cum tibia lumbos incitat,” Juv. 6, 315. —
B. In partic.
1. To inspire. nam terrae vis Pythiam Delphis incitabat, naturae Sibyllam, Cic. Div. 1, 36, 79: “mente incitati,” id. Ac. 2, 5, 14; id. Cat. 63, 93.—
2. In a bad sense, to excite, arouse, stir up: “neque enim desunt, qui istos in me atque in optimum quemque incitent,” Cic. Fl. 28, 66; cf. id. Fam. 12, 2, 1: “et consules senatum in tribunum et tribunus populum in consules incitabat,” Liv. 4, 2, 1: “his vocibus cum in se magis incitarent dictatorem,” id. 8, 33, 1: “opifices facile contra vos incitabuntur,” Cic. Ac. 2, 47, 144 (shortly before, concitentur); Hirt. B. G. 8, 35 fin.: “milites nostri pristini diei perfidiā incitati,” Caes. B. G. 4, 14, 3: “civitas ob eam rem incitata,” id. ib. 1, 4: “judices,” Quint. 6, 4, 10.—
3. (Acc. to I. B.) To augment, increase, enhance: “consuetudo exercitatioque et intellegendi prudentiam acuit et eloquendi celeritatem incitat,” Cic. de Or. 1, 20, 90; so, “caelibum poenas,” Tac. A. 3, 25.—Hence, incĭtātus , a, um, P. a. (set in rapid motion; hence), swiftly running, flowing, sailing, flying, etc.; in gen., rapid, swift.
A. Lit.: “imperator equo incitato se in hostes immittens,” at full speed, Cic. N. D. 3, 6, 15: “equo incitato,” Caes. B. G. 4, 12 fin. (for which: citato equo; “v. cito): milites cursu incitato in summo colle ab hostibus conspiciebantur,” advancing rapidly, id. ib. 2, 26, 3; cf. “in the foll. B.: mundi incitatissima conversio,” Cic. Rep. 6, 18 (shortly before: conversio concitatior).—
B. Trop.: “cursus in oratione incitatior,” Cic. Or. 59, 201; cf. “so of speech: Herodotus sine ullis salebris quasi sedatus amnis fluit: Thucydides incitatior fertur,” id. ib. 12, 39.—Adv.: incĭtātē (acc. to B.), of speech, quickly, rapidly, violently: “fluit incitatius,” Cic. Or. 63, 212: “quod incitatius feratur (locutio),” id. ib. 20, 67.