titivate

titivate
titillate, titivate
Titillate means ‘to excite’ (Some interesting titles to titillate your literary tastebuds), and often has sexual overtones (especially in the noun derivative titillation), whereas titivate means ‘to adorn or smarten’ (Striking abstract paintings titivate the otherwise bare walls). Titivate is often mistakenly used for titillate (although the reverse mistake does not occur):

• ☒ Even now twelve heartfelt pages are titivating the senses of a Dead Letter superintendent —Dylan Thomas, 1933.


Modern English usage. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Titivate — Tit i*vate, Tittivate Tit ti*vate, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. {Titivated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Titivating}.] [Formed from an uncertain source, in imitation of words in ate fr. L.] To dress or smarten up; to spruce. {Tit i*va tion}, {Tit ti*va tion}, n …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • titivate — 1805, perhaps from TIDY (Cf. tidy) with a quai Latin ending …   Etymology dictionary

  • titivate — ► VERB informal ▪ make smarter or more attractive. DERIVATIVES titivation noun. ORIGIN originally also spelt tidivate: perhaps from TIDY(Cf. ↑tidy) …   English terms dictionary

  • titivate — [tit′ə vāt΄] vt., vi. titivated, titivating [earlier tidivate, tiddivate, prob. < TIDY, with quasi Latin suffix] to dress up; spruce up titivation n …   English World dictionary

  • titivate — [ tɪtɪveɪt] verb informal make minor enhancements to. ↘(titivate oneself) make oneself look smart. Derivatives titivation noun Origin C19 (in early use, also as tidivate): perh. from tidy, on the pattern of cultivate. Usage The verbs …   English new terms dictionary

  • titivate — UK [ˈtɪtɪveɪt] / US [ˈtɪtɪˌveɪt] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms titivate : present tense I/you/we/they titivate he/she/it titivates present participle titivating past tense titivated past participle titivated British informal to make… …   English dictionary

  • titivate oneself — make oneself look smart. → titivate …   English new terms dictionary

  • titivate — or tittivate verb ( vated; vating) Etymology: perhaps from 1tidy + renovate Date: 1824 transitive verb to make smart or spruce intransitive verb smarten, spruce • titivation noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • titivate — titivate1 titivation, n. titivator, n. /tit euh vayt /, v., titivated, titivating. v.t. 1. to make smart or spruce: She titivated her old dress with a new belt. v.i. 2. to make oneself smart or spruce. Also, tittivate. [1795 1805; earlier… …   Universalium

  • titivate — verb /ˈtɪt.ɪ.veɪt,ˈtɪt.ə.veɪt/ To make small improvements or alterations to (ones appearance etc.); to add some finishing touches to …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”