Incite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Incited; p. pr. & vb. n. Inciting.]
Etymology: [L. incitare; pref. in- in + citare to rouse, stir up: cf. F. inciter. See Cite.]
To move to action; to stir up; to rouse; to spur or urge on. Anthiochus, when he incited Prusias to join in war, set before him the greatness of the Romans. Bacon. No blown ambition doth our arms incite. Shak.
Syn. -- Excite; stimulate; instigate; spur; goad; arouse; move; urge; rouse; provoke; encourage; prompt; animate. See Excite.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for incite; he lists it under abet, influence, persuade.
Where he writes about it:
Abet and instigate are now used almost without exception in a bad sense; one may incite either to good or evil. — from abet
Abet and instigate apply either to persons or actions, incite to persons only; one incites a person to an action. — from abet
A clergyman will advocate the claims of justice, aid the poor, encourage the despondent, support the weak, uphold the constituted authorities; but he will not incite to a quarrel, instigate a riot, or abet a crime. — from abet
The originator of a crime often instigates or incites others to abet him in it, or one may instigate or incite others to a crime in the commission of which he himself takes no active part. — from abet
Incite and instigate, to spur or goad one to action, differ in the fact that incite may be to good, while instigate is always to evil (compare abet). — from influence