Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EX-A-CER-BA'TION, n.

1. The act of exasperating; the irritation of angry or malignant passions or qualities; increase of malignity.
2. Among physicians, a periodical increase of violence in a disease. This term is more generally restricted to the periodical increase of remittent and continued fevers, where there is no absolute cessation of the fever. Cyc.
3. Increased severity; as, violent exacerbations of punishment. [Unusual.] Paley.