The word excitable (ɪkˈsʌɪtəbəl) is commonly misspelled as "exciteable". The correct spelling can be explained using the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), which helps us understand the pronunciation of a word. In this case, the stress is on the second syllable, as indicated by the ˈ symbol before the "s". Additionally, the sound represented by the "i" in the second syllable is a short "i" sound, not a long "i" sound, which can be confusing when spelling the word. Therefore, the correct spelling is "excitable".
Excitable is an adjective that refers to a person or thing that is prone to becoming easily agitated, excited, or aroused. This term is commonly used to describe someone who possesses a highly reactive or sensitive nature, particularly in response to external stimuli or events. Such individuals tend to display a heightened emotional or physical responsiveness, often exhibiting excessive enthusiasm, nervousness, or impulsiveness.
When used to describe a person, an excitable individual may frequently experience mood swings, with their emotions rapidly oscillating between extreme highs and lows. They may find it challenging to remain calm or composed in situations that would otherwise elicit a more controlled response. This heightened reactivity can manifest in various ways, such as being quick to anger, easily startled, or showing exaggerated emotional responses.
In the context of physical attributes, excitable refers to a quality of matter or substances that readily undergoes chemical or physiological changes upon exposure to external conditions. This term is often applied in the fields of chemistry and biology to describe substances that are reactive or volatile, exhibiting a tendency to react vigorously or unpredictably when subjected to certain stimuli.
Overall, excitable encompasses both psychological and physiological aspects, indicating the tendency of a person or substance to react strongly or quickly to various stimuli, whether those stimuli are emotional, intellectual, or physical in nature.
Irritable, capable of quick response to a stimulus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Easily provoked or called into action.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "excitable" is derived from the Latin word "excitabilis", which is a combination of the root "excitus" (meaning "aroused" or "excited") and the suffix "-abilis" (indicating the capacity for something). Thus, "excitabilis" refers to something or someone that can be aroused or excited. Over time, "excitabilis" evolved into "excitable" in English, retaining its original meaning of easily becoming excited or agitated.