The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word QUICKENS
Q
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Excites" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case excites = quickens.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does QUICKENS mean?
QUICKENS verb- To give life to; to animate, make alive, revive.
- To come back to life, receive life.
- To take on a state of activity or vigour comparable to life; to be roused, excited.
- Of a pregnant woman: to first feel the movements of the foetus, or reach the stage of pregnancy at which this takes place; of a foetus: to begin to move.
- To make quicker; to hasten, speed up.
- To become faster.
- To shorten the radius of (a curve); to make (a curve) sharper.
- A weed, quitch.