exhilarant

& 8. [Lat. exhilarans, pr. par. of exhilaro=to cheer, to gladden: ex =out, fully, and hilaro =to cheer; hilar is = glad, merry.] A. As adj.: Cheering, gladdening; exciting joy or mirth. B. As substantive: 1. Ord. Language: Anything which exhilarates, cheers, or excites joy or mirth. "To Leonard it was an exhilarant and a cordial."Southey: The Doctor , ch. lxxvii. 2. Pharm . ( pl .): Medicines whose primary effect is to cause an exaltation of the spirits, and, through their influence on the brain, a general excitement or augmentation of the functions of the whole body, stimulating the vascular system through the influence of the nervous system, as alcohol in the form of distilled spirit, wine, malt liquids, ether, acetic ether, chloroform, Indian hemp, and opium in small doses. They are given in low conditions of the nervous system, and in cases where there is a nece ity to stimulate for a time the heart and circulatory system. (Garrod: Mat . Medica . )