Definition of galvanize

The word "galvanize" originated from the Italian scientist Luigi Galvani, who lived in the 18th century. Galvani discovered that when two different metals, such as copper and zinc, were connected by a wet cord and an animal was placed on the metals, the animal's muscles would contract. This discovery led to the development of the first battery. The term "galvanize" was coined from Galvani's name and refers to the process of inducing electricity through the use of different metals, similar to Galvani's original experiment. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the idea of shocking or startling someone into action, as if "galvanizing" them like a battery. Today, the word is often used metaphorically to describe something that stimulates or motivates someone to take action.