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Webster 1913 Edition

Electrify

E-lec′tri-fy

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Electrified
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Electrifying
.]
[
Electr
ic +
-fy
.]
1.
To communicate electricity to; to charge with electricity;
as, to
electrify
a jar
.
2.
To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to give an electric shock to;
as, to
electrify
a limb, or the body
.
3.
To excite suddenly and violently, esp. by something highly delightful or inspiriting; to thrill;
as, this patriotic sentiment
electrified
the audience
.
If the sovereign were now to immure a subject in defiance of the writ of habeas corpus . . . the whole nation would be instantly
electrified
by the news.
Macaulay.
Try whether she could
electrify
Mr. Grandcourt by mentioning it to him at table.
G. Eliot.

E-lec′tri-fy

,
Verb.
I.
To become electric.

Webster 1828 Edition

Electrify

ELEC'TRIFY

,
Verb.
T.
To communicate electricity to; to charge with electricity.
1.
To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to give an electric shock to.
2.
To excite suddenly; to give a sudden shock; as, the whole assembly was electrified.

Definition 2024

electrify

electrify

English

Verb

electrify ‎(third-person singular simple present electrifies, present participle electrifying, simple past and past participle electrified)

  1. (transitive) To communicate or supply electricity to; to charge with electricity.
    to electrify a jar
  2. (transitive) To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to give an electric shock to.
    to electrify a limb, or the body
  3. (transitive) To excite suddenly and violently, especially by something highly delightful or inspiriting; to thrill.
    This patriotic sentiment electrified the audience.
    • Macaulay
      If the sovereign were now to immure a subject in defiance of the writ of habeas corpus […] the whole nation would be instantly electrified by the news.
    • George Eliot
      Try whether she could electrify Mr. Grandcourt by mentioning it to him at table.
    • 2014 October 25, Jeff Gordinier, “In search of the perfect taco”, in T: The New York Times Style Magazine (international edition), page 100:
      The trailblazing Oaxacan chef Alejandro Ruiz […] has spiked this black-bean sauce with a hidden depth charge of flavor: patches of foliage from a local avocado tree. The leaves electrify the sauce with an unexpected thrum of black licorice.
  4. (intransitive) To become electric.
  5. to adapt (a home, farm, village, city, industry, railroad) for electric power

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