An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/reizen

by Friedrich Kluge

reizen, vb., ‘to stimulate, excite, charm,’ from MidHG. reitzen, reiȥen, OHG. reizzen, reiȥen, ‘to charm, entice, lead astray’; the form with tz is due to Goth. tj. Apparently a factitive of reißen, hence lit. ‘to cause to drag, make one come out of oneself’; comp. OIc. reita, ‘to stir up, irritate.’ Comp. beizen, heizen.