rouse /raʊz/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: Perhaps from Old French ruser ; ⇨ ↑ rush 1 ]
1 . formal to wake someone who is sleeping deeply:
His banging roused the neighbours.
rouse somebody from sleep/dreams etc
A persistent ringing roused Christina from a pleasant dream.
2 . to make someone start doing something, especially when they have been too tired or unwilling to do it
rouse yourself
She roused herself stiffly from her chair.
rouse somebody to something/to do something
a campaign designed to rouse the younger generation to action
3 . to make someone feel a particular emotion, such as anger or fear ⇨ arouse :
We don’t want to rouse any suspicions.
rouse somebody to something
Paul strode forward, roused to anger.