spirit

[ spir-it ]

/ ˈspɪr ɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spirit ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.

the incorporeal part of humans: present in spirit though absent in body.

the soul regarded as separating from the body at death.

conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter: the world of spirit.

a supernatural, incorporeal being, especially one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character: evil spirits.

a fairy, sprite, or elf.

an angel or demon.

an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action: the spirit of reform.

(initial capital letter) the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart.

a divine, inspiring, or animating being or influence. Num. 11:25; Is. 32:15.

(initial capital letter) the third person of the Trinity; Holy Spirit.

the soul or heart as the seat of feelings or sentiments, or as prompting to action: a man of broken spirit.

spirits, feelings or mood with regard to exaltation or depression: low spirits; good spirits.

excellent disposition or attitude in terms of vigor, courage, firmness of intent, etc.; mettle: That's the spirit!

temper or disposition: meek in spirit.

an individual as characterized by a given attitude, disposition, character, action, etc.: A few brave spirits remained to face the danger.

the dominant tendency or character of anything: the spirit of the age.

vigorous sense of membership in a group: college spirit.

the general meaning or intent of a statement, document, etc. (opposed to letter): the spirit of the law.

Chemistry. the essence or active principle of a substance as extracted in liquid form, especially by distillation.

Often spirits. a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.

Chiefly British. alcohol.

Pharmacology. a solution in alcohol of an essential or volatile principle; essence(def 3).

any of certain subtle fluids formerly supposed to permeate the body.

the Spirit, God

adjective

pertaining to something that works by burning alcoholic spirits: a spirit stove.

of or relating to spiritualist bodies or activities.

verb (used with object)

to animate with fresh ardor or courage; inspirit.

to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.

to carry off mysteriously or secretly (often followed by away or off): His captors spirited him away.

Idioms for spirit

out of spirits, in low spirits; depressed: We were feeling out of spirits after so many days of rain.

Origin of spirit

1200–50; Middle English (noun) < Latin spīritus orig., a breathing, equivalent to spīri-, combining form representing spīrāre to breathe + -tus suffix of v. action

SYNONYMS FOR spirit

2 life, mind, consciousness, essence.

5 apparition, phantom, shade. See ghost.

6 goblin, hobgoblin.

7 genius.

14 enthusiasm, energy, zeal, ardor, fire, enterprise.

15 attitude, mood, humor.

17 nature, drift, tenor, gist, essence, sense, complexion.

19 intention, significance, purport.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spirit ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM spirit

spir·it·like, adjective non·spir·it, noun out·spir·it, verb (used with object) un·spir·it·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spirit

spirit sprite

Words nearby spirit

spires, spiriferous, spirillar, spirillum, spirillum minus, spirit, spirit away, spirit cave, spirit compass, spirit gum, spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, the

Example sentences from the Web for spirit

Education controls the transmission of values and molds the spirit before dominating the soul.

Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President |Pierre Assouline |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Their authors promise that your spirit will be improved, your ambition honed, and your finances maximized by their advice.

Can Self-Help Books Really Make a New You? |Lizzie Crocker |December 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The moment where they enter the spirit portal symbolizes their evolution from being friends to being a couple.

Yep, Korra and Asami Went in the Spirit Portal and Probably Kissed |Melissa Leon |December 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The Speyside distillery is famous for taking only the finest cut of spirit for its whisky.

The Restaurant, Flask, And Photography Worthy of The Macallan Whisky | |December 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

But he clearly understands the spirit of the season and describes it pretty much the same way as my wife.

Keep Christmas Commercialized! |P. J. O’Rourke |December 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The spirit and tendencies of the past century still persisted in the circles which were most permanently influential.

The Idea of Progress |J. B. Bury
But the Britain and Russia and France she fights are lands full of the spirit of undefined novelty.

What is Coming? |H. G. Wells
His spirit broke and he became a quivering jelly-mountain of misery.

The Faith of Men |Jack London
Contemptuous of "external good," it seeks its own counsel and obeys the mandates of its own spirit.

Heroes in Peace |John Haynes Holmes
He is near her own age, and he is a handsome fellow, full of life and spirit.

Rodman the Keeper |Constance Fenimore Woolson

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (1 of 3)

spirit ¹

/ (ˈspɪrɪt) /

noun

the force or principle of life that animates the body of living things

temperament or disposition truculent in spirit

liveliness; mettle they set to it with spirit

the fundamental, emotional, and activating principle of a person; will the experience broke his spirit

a sense of loyalty or dedication team spirit

the prevailing element; feeling a spirit of joy pervaded the atmosphere

state of mind or mood; attitude he did it in the wrong spirit

(plural) an emotional state, esp with regard to exaltation or dejection in high spirits

a person characterized by some activity, quality, or disposition a leading spirit of the movement

the deeper more significant meaning as opposed to a pedantic interpretation the spirit of the law

that which constitutes a person's intangible being as contrasted with his physical presence I shall be with you in spirit

an incorporeal being, esp the soul of a dead person
(as modifier)spirit world

verb (tr)

(usually foll by away or off) to carry off mysteriously or secretly

(often foll by up) to impart animation or determination to

Word Origin for spirit

C13: from Old French esperit, from Latin spīritus breath, spirit; related to spīrāre to breathe

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (2 of 3)

spirit ²

/ (ˈspɪrɪt) /

noun

(often plural) any distilled alcoholic liquor such as brandy, rum, whisky, or gin

chem

an aqueous solution of ethanol, esp one obtained by distillation
the active principle or essence of a substance, extracted as a liquid, esp by distillation

pharmacol

a solution of a volatile substance, esp a volatile oil, in alcohol
(as modifier)a spirit burner

alchemy any of the four substances sulphur, mercury, sal ammoniac, or arsenic

Word Origin for spirit

C14: special use of spirit 1, name applied to alchemical substances (as in sense 4), hence extended to distilled liquids

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (3 of 3)

Spirit

/ (ˈspɪrɪt) /

noun the Spirit

another name for the Holy Spirit
God, esp when regarded as transcending material limitations

the influence of God or divine things upon the soul

Christian Science God or divine substance

Medical definitions for spirit

spirit

[ spĭr′ĭt ]

n.

spirits An alcohol solution of an essential or volatile substance.

spirits An alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor.

A liquid that has been distilled.

Idioms and Phrases with spirit

spirit

In addition to the idioms beginning with spirit

spirit away
spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, the

also see:

kindred spirit

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

spirit

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

Idioms for spirit

Origin of spirit

SYNONYMS FOR spirit

OTHER WORDS FROM spirit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spirit

Words nearby spirit

Example sentences from the Web for spirit

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (1 of 3)

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for spirit

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (2 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for spirit

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (3 of 3)

noun the Spirit

Medical definitions for spirit

n.

Idioms and Phrases with spirit

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

spirit

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

Idioms for spirit

Origin of spirit

SYNONYMS FOR spirit

OTHER WORDS FROM spirit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spirit

Words nearby spirit

Words related to spirit

Example sentences from the Web for spirit

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for spirit (1 of 3)

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for spirit

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (2 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for spirit

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (3 of 3)

noun the Spirit

Medical definitions for spirit

n.

Idioms and Phrases with spirit

British Dictionary definitions for spirit (1 of 3)