[ex.hil.a.rate] vt -rat.ed ; -rat.ing [L exhilaratus, pp. of exhilarare, fr. ex- + hilarare to gladden, fr. hilarus cheerful--more at hilarious] (1540) 1 a: to make cheerful b: enliven, excite
2: refresh, stimulate -- ex.hil.a.rat.ing.ly adv -- ex.hil.a.ra.tive adj