esprit

[ e-spree ]

/ ɛˈspri /

sprightliness of spirit or wit; lively intelligence.

Origin of esprit

1585–95; < French < Latin spīritus spirit

Throughout the debate, Republicans never lost their esprit de corps.

The Republican Frat-Boy Culture |Reihan Salam |March 28, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
Montesquieu had placed an invocation to the muses in the middle of the "Esprit des Lois."

The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 1 (of 6) |Hippolyte A. Taine
The prince was the incarnation of French 555 esprit, and of the Parisian-French esprit, which includes all possible qualities.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 70, No. 433, November 1851 |Various
This is indeed the characteristic mark, the common signature, so to speak, of esprit like his.

Amiel's Journal |Henri-Frdric Amiel

There the Moslems acquired the esprit de corps and the rigid discipline which distinguish their armies.

History of Religion |Allan Menzies
The whole of his mind—almost the whole of his existence—is embodied in the Esprit des Lois .

A History of French Literature |Edward Dowden

esprit

/ (ɛˈspriː) /

spirit and liveliness, esp in wit

C16: from French, from Latin spīritus a breathing, spirit 1