Definition of SPIRIT

spirit

Plural: spirits

Noun

  • the vital principle or animating force within living things
  • the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people
  • a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character
  • any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings
  • the state of a person's emotions (especially with regard to pleasure or dejection)
    • "he was in good spirits"
    • "his spirit rose"
  • the intended meaning of a communication
  • animation and energy in action or expression
  • an inclination or tendency of a certain kind
  • The soul of a person or other creature.
  • A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.
  • Enthusiasm.
  • The manner or style of something.
  • Intent; real meaning; opposed to the letter, or formal statement.
  • A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.
  • Energy; ardour.
  • One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper.
  • Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state.
  • Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.
  • A rough breathing; an aspirate, such as the letter h; also, a mark denoting aspiration.
  • Any of the four substances: sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).
  • Stannic chloride.

Verb

Verb Forms: spirited, spiriting, spirits

  • To carry off secretly and swiftly; to whisk away.
  • infuse with spirit
    • "The company spirited him up"
  • To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.
  • Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit.

Examples

  • a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit
  • A wandering spirit haunts the island.
  • Civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men.
  • He has seen spirits roam the house.
  • He tried to SPIRIT away the Q tile, but his opponent caught him.
  • In the spirit of forgiveness, we didn't press charges.
  • School spirit is at an all-time high.
  • the spirit of an enterprise, or of a document
  • to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be down-hearted, or in bad spirits

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English spirit, from Old French espirit (“spirit”), from Latin spīritus (“breath; spirit”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys- (“to blow, breathe”). Compare inspire, respire, transpire, all ultimately from Latin spīrō (“I breathe, blow, respire”). In this sense, displaced native Middle English gast (from Old English gāst), whence modern English ghost. Doublet of spiritus, spirytus, sprite, spright, and esprit.

Synonyms

disembodied spirit, emotional state, feel, feeling, flavor, flavour, heart, inspirit, intent, life, liveliness, look, purport, smell, spirit up, sprightliness, tone, apparition, liqueur, liquor, specter, spirit, vision

Scrabble Score: 8

spirit: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
spirit: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
spirit: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

spirit: valid Words With Friends Word