Definitions
to urge on; incite
Etymology
About
The character "嗾" is structured with the mouth radical (口) on the left and the component "族" on the right, a formation that directly associates it with verbal action. Etymologically, it originated from the specific act of issuing commands to dogs, often to incite them to attack, as evidenced in classical Chinese literature. Over time, its meaning expanded beyond animal incitement to encompass the general instigation or urging of people toward negative or mischievous actions, while retaining its core sense of provocative speech. The component "族" primarily serves a phonetic function, aligning with the character's pronunciation, while the enduring presence of "口" continues to denote its oral and communicative nature.
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