incitements
|in-cite-ments|
/ɪnˈsaɪtmənts/
(incitement)
urge on; provoke action
Etymology
'incitement' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'incitare', where the prefix 'in-' meant 'in/on/toward' and 'citare' (frequentative of 'ciere') meant 'to move or rouse'.
'incitement' changed from Latin 'incitare' through Old French 'inciter' and Middle English forms (e.g. 'inciten') and eventually became the modern English word 'incitement' by addition of the noun suffix '-ment'.
Initially it meant 'to urge on or rouse', but over time it also acquired the specific legal sense of 'encouraging others to commit (often unlawful) acts', which is common in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of urging or persuading others to commit a specific action, often used in law to refer to encouraging unlawful or violent acts.
The politician's speeches were investigated as possible incitements to violence.
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Noun 2
things (words, actions, or events) that provoke or encourage a feeling or action (not necessarily illegal).
There were several incitements in the online posts that inflamed public opinion.
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Last updated: 2025/12/21 10:32