Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EX-AS'PER-ATE, v.t. [L. exaspero, to irritate, ex and aspero, from asper, rough, harsh.]

1. To anger; to irritate to a high degree; to provoke to rage; to enrage; to excite anger, or to inflame it to an extreme degree. We say, to exasperate a person, or to exasperate the passion of anger or resentment.
2. To aggravate; to imbitter; as, to exasperate enmity.
3. To augment violence; to increase malignity; to exacerbate; as, to exasperate pain or a part inflamed. Bacon.