enthusiasm

[ en-thoo-zee-az-uhm ]
/ ɛnˈθu ziˌæz əm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR enthusiasm ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively interest: He shows marked enthusiasm for his studies.
an occupation, activity, or pursuit in which such interest is shown: Hunting is his latest enthusiasm.
any of various forms of extreme religious devotion, usually associated with intense emotionalism and a break with orthodoxy.

Origin of enthusiasm

1570–80; < Late Latin enthūsiasmus < Greek enthousiasmós, equivalent to enthousí(a) possession by a god ( énthous, variant of éntheos having a god within, equivalent to en- en-2 + -thous, -theos god-possessing + -ia -y3) + -asmos, variant, after vowel stems, of -ismos -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM enthusiasm

Words nearby enthusiasm

enthrall, enthralling, enthrone, enthronement, enthuse, enthusiasm, enthusiast, enthusiastic, enthymeme, entia, entice

Content related to enthusiasm

Did You Know How This Word Was Formed? Words are funny things. Here are some that might not mean what you thought ... at least when they were originally formed.
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Words related to enthusiasm

emotion, eagerness, interest, zeal, joy, energy, warmth, fury, intensity, passion, fervor, ardor, frenzy, feeling, spirit, devotion, nerve, keenness, fad, vim

Example sentences from the Web for enthusiasm

British Dictionary definitions for enthusiasm

enthusiasm
/ (ɪnˈθjuːzɪˌæzəm) /

noun

ardent and lively interest or eagerness
an object of keen interest; passion
archaic extravagant or unbalanced religious fervour
obsolete possession or inspiration by a god

Word Origin for enthusiasm

C17: from Late Latin enthūsiasmus, from Greek enthousiasmos, from enthousiazein to be possessed by a god, from entheos inspired, from en- ² + theos god