galvanise

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb to stimulate to action
  2. verb cover with zinc
  3. verb stimulate (muscles) by administering a shock

Etymology

From French galvaniser, from galvanisme, named after Italian physiologist Luigi Aloisio Galvani (1737–1798). By surface analysis, galvano- + -ise.

In classic literature

Synonyms

startle, galvanize

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