rouse

Everyday

1. To wake someone up. tree →
2. To make someone feel a strong emotion like anger or excitement, or make them act: rouse a crowd. tree →
3. (Australia, informal) "Rouse on" someone means to tell them off. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, a sleeper is roused by a noise, and a leader rouses people with a speech. A "rousing" song or cheer is loud and exciting. In Australia, a teacher may "rouse on" a pupil. Phrases: rouse from sleep, rouse suspicion, rousing speech, rouse on (Australia).

Examples

• The alarm roused me at six o'clock. tree →
• The barking dog roused the whole street. tree →
• The captain's speech roused the team to win. tree →
• His strange behaviour roused suspicion. tree →
• We sang a rousing song at the end of assembly. tree →
• (Australia) Mum roused on me for leaving the gate open. tree →
• Then Marzavan awoke and roused the prince without disturbing anyone else. tree →

Note

Past form: roused. Rhymes with "cows". Similar: arouse (to cause a feeling), but "arouse" can sound adult, so "rouse" or "wake" is safer for waking someone. Do not confuse "rouse" with "rose" or "ruse" (a trick).

In Jewish tradition

It means to stir up or wake; Israel roused God to jealousy by idols, and Judah is a lion no one dares rouse. In Job and Psalms it also means to wake someone from sleep, or to stir up a sea monster or God to act.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the lion image as Judah's royal strength, from whom David's kingly line comes. The psalmist's cry "Rouse Thee" is a prayer asking God to act for justice, as if He were asleep.

Examples

• They roused Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations did they provoke Him. (Torah DEU.32.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• He stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? (Torah GEN.49.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? (Torah NUM.24.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan. (Writings JOB.3.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Rouse Thee, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. (Writings PSA.35.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• So man lieth down and riseth not; till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep. (Writings JOB.14.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past form: roused. Rhymes with "cows". Similar: arouse (to cause a feeling), but "arouse" can sound adult, so "rouse" or "wake" is safer for waking someone. Do not confuse "rouse" with "rose" or "ruse" (a trick).