Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Origin: Perhaps from Old French ruser; RUSH1

rouse

 verb
     
rouse [transitive]
1 formal to wake someone who is sleeping deeply:
His banging roused the neighbours.
rouse somebody from sleep/dreams etc
A persistent ringing roused Christina from a pleasant dream.
2 to make someone start doing something, especially when they have been too tired or unwilling to do it
rouse yourself
She roused herself stiffly from her chair.
rouse somebody to something/to do something
a campaign designed to rouse the younger generation to action
3 to make someone feel a particular emotion, such as anger or fear [↪ arouse]:
We don't want to rouse any suspicions.
rouse somebody to something
Paul strode forward, roused to anger.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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