Crossword Genius

Provoke with old quote ... (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

excite

'provoke' is the definition.
(exciting is a kind of provoking)

'with old quote' is the wordplay.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'old' becomes 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime).
'quote' becomes 'cite' (synonyms).
'ex' next to 'cite' is 'EXCITE'.

(Other definitions for excite that I've seen before include "fire" , "cause a stir" , "Cause (someone) to feel very enthusiastic" , "Create enthusiasm" , "Arouse, make eager" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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