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spirit

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
spir·it  (sprt)
n.
1.
a. The vital principle or animating force within living beings.
b. Incorporeal consciousness.
2. The soul, considered as departing from the body of a person at death.
3. Spirit The Holy Spirit.
4. A supernatural being, as:
a. An angel or a demon.
b. A being inhabiting or embodying a particular place, object, or natural phenomenon.
c. A fairy or sprite.
5.
a. The part of a human associated with the mind, will, and feelings: Though unable to join us today, they are with us in spirit.
b. The essential nature of a person or group.
6. A person as characterized by a stated quality: He is a proud spirit.
7.
a. An inclination or tendency of a specified kind: Her actions show a generous spirit.
b. A causative, activating, or essential principle: The couple's engagement was announced in a joyous spirit.
8. spirits A mood or an emotional state: The guests were in high spirits. His sour spirits put a damper on the gathering.
9. A particular mood or an emotional state characterized by vigor and animation: sang with spirit.
10. Strong loyalty or dedication: team spirit.
11. The predominant mood of an occasion or a period: "The spirit of 1776 is not dead" Thomas Jefferson.
12. The actual though unstated sense or significance of something: the spirit of the law.
13. An alcohol solution of an essential or volatile substance. Often used in the plural with a singular verb.
14. spirits An alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor.
tr.v. spir·it·ed, spir·it·ing, spir·its
1. To carry off mysteriously or secretly: The documents had been spirited away.
2. To impart courage, animation, or determination to; inspirit.

[Middle English, from Old French espirit, from Latin spritus, breath, from sprre, to breathe.]

spirit 1
Noun
1. the nonphysical aspect of a person concerned with profound thoughts and emotions
2. the nonphysical part of a person believed to live on after death
3. a shared feeling: a spirit of fun and adventure
4. mood or attitude: fighting spirit
5. a person's character or temperament: the indomitable spirit of the Polish people
6. liveliness shown in what a person does: it has been undertaken with spirit
7. the feelings that motivate someone to survive in difficult times or live according to his or her beliefs: someone had broken his spirit
8. spirits an emotional state: in good spirits
9. the way in which something, such as a law or an agreement, was intended to be interpreted: they acted against the spirit of the treaty
10. a supernatural being, such as a ghost
Verb
[-iting, -ited]
spirit away or off to carry (someone or something) off mysteriously or secretly [Latin spiritus breath, spirit]

spirit 2
Noun
1. (usually pl) distilled alcoholic liquor, such as whisky or gin
2. Chem
a. a solution of ethanol obtained by distillation
b. the essence of a substance, extracted as a liquid by distillation
3. Pharmacol a solution of a volatile oil in alcohol [special use of spirit1]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.spiritspirit - the vital principle or animating force within living things
soul, psyche - the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
life principle, vital principle - a hypothetical force to which the functions and qualities peculiar to living things are sometimes ascribed
2.spiritspirit - the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people; "the feel of the city excited him"; "a clergyman improved the tone of the meeting"; "it had the smell of treason"
ambiance, ambience, atmosphere - a particular environment or surrounding influence; "there was an atmosphere of excitement"
Hollywood - a flashy vulgar tone or atmosphere believed to be characteristic of the American film industry; "some people in publishing think of theirs as a glamorous medium so they copy the glitter of Hollywood"
Zeitgeist - the spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation
3.spirit - a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character
character, fibre, fiber - the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions; "education has for its object the formation of character"- Herbert Spencer
braveness, bravery, courage, courageousness - a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
cowardice, cowardliness - the trait of lacking courage
4.spirit - any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings
spiritual being, supernatural being - an incorporeal being believed to have powers to affect the course of human events
control - a spiritual agency that is assumed to assist the medium during a seance
evil spirit - a spirit tending to cause harm
banshee, banshie - (Irish folklore) a female spirit who wails to warn of impending death
djinn, djinni, djinny, genie, jinnee, jinni - (Islam) an invisible spirit mentioned in the Koran and believed by Muslims to inhabit the earth and influence mankind by appearing in the form of humans or animals
familiar spirit, familiar - a spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard
peri - (Persian folklore) a supernatural being descended from fallen angels and excluded from paradise until penance is done
apparition, fantasm, phantasm, phantasma, phantom, spectre, specter - a ghostly appearing figure; "we were unprepared for the apparition that confronted us"
presence - an invisible spiritual being felt to be nearby
kachina - a deified spirit of the Pueblo people
numen - a spirit believed to inhabit an object or preside over a place (especially in ancient Roman religion)
python - a soothsaying spirit or a person who is possessed by such a spirit
silvan, sylvan - a spirit that lives in or frequents the woods
thunderbird - (mythology) the spirit of thunder and lightning believed by some Native Americans to take the shape of a great bird
zombi, zombi spirit, zombie spirit, zombie - (voodooism) a spirit or supernatural force that reanimates a dead body
5.spirit - the state of a person's emotions (especially with regard to pleasure or dejection); "his emotional state depended on her opinion"; "he was in good spirits"; "his spirit rose"
emotion - any strong feeling
embarrassment - the state of being embarrassed (usually by some financial inadequacy); "he is currently suffering financial embarrassments"
ecstasy, exaltation, rapture, raptus, transport - a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion; "listening to sweet music in a perfect rapture"- Charles Dickens
gratification, satisfaction - state of being gratified or satisfied; "dull repetitious work gives no gratification"; "to my immense gratification he arrived on time"
happiness, felicity - state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
state - a state of depression or agitation; "he was in such a state you just couldn't reason with him"
unhappiness - state characterized by emotions ranging from mild discontentment to deep grief
6.spirit - the intended meaning of a communication
meaning, signification, import, significance - the message that is intended or expressed or signified; "what is the meaning of this sentence"; "the significance of a red traffic light"; "the signification of Chinese characters"; "the import of his announcement was ambiguous"
7.spirit - animation and energy in action or expression; "it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it"
brio, invigoration, spiritedness, vivification, animation - quality of being active or spirited or alive and vigorous
pertness - quality of being lively and confident; "there was a pertness about her that attracted him"
airiness, delicacy - lightness in movement or manner
alacrity, briskness, smartness - liveliness and eagerness; "he accepted with alacrity"; "the smartness of the pace soon exhausted him"
vim, muscularity, vigor, vigour, energy - an imaginative lively style (especially style of writing); "his writing conveys great energy"; "a remarkable muscularity of style"
elan - enthusiastic and assured vigor and liveliness; "a performance of great elan and sophistication"
esprit - liveliness of mind or spirit
breeziness, jauntiness - a breezy liveliness; "a delightful breeziness of manner"
irrepressibility, buoyancy - irrepressible liveliness and good spirit; "I admired his buoyancy and persistent good humor"
high-spiritedness - exuberant liveliness
ebullience, enthusiasm, exuberance - overflowing with eager enjoyment or approval
pep, peppiness, ginger - liveliness and energy; "this tonic is guaranteed to give you more pep"
8.spirit - an inclination or tendency of a certain kind; "he had a change of heart"
disposition, temperament - your usual mood; "he has a happy disposition"
Verb1.spirit - infuse with spirit; "The company spirited him up"
liven, liven up, enliven, invigorate, animate - make lively; "let's liven up this room a bit"

spirit
noun 1. soul, life, psyche, essential being
noun 2. life force, vital spark, breath, mauri N.Z.
noun 3. ghost, phantom, spectre, vision, shadow, shade (literary) spook (informal) apparition, sprite, atua N.Z. kehua N.Z.
noun 4. courage, guts (informal) grit, balls (taboo), (slang) backbone, spunk (informal) gameness, ballsiness (taboo), (slang) dauntlessness, stoutheartedness
noun 7. heart, sense, nature, soul, core, substance, essence, lifeblood, quintessence, fundamental nature
11. (plural) mood, feelings, morale, humour, temper, tenor, disposition, state of mind, frame of mind

spirit
noun (often plural) strong alcohol, liquor, the hard stuff (informal) firewater, strong liquor
Translations
Spanish spirit [ˈspɪrɪt] n (= soul) → alma f (= ghost); fantasma m (= attitude); espíritu m (= courage); valor m; ánimo;
spirits npl (drink) → alcohol msg; bebidas fpl alcohólicas;
in good spirits → alegre, de buen ánimo;
Holy Spirit → Espíritu m Santo;
community spirit, public spirit → civismo

French spirit [ˈspɪrɪt] n (= soul) → esprit m, âme f (= ghost); esprit, revenant m (= mood); esprit, état m d'esprit (= courage); courage m, énergie f;
spirits npl (= drink) → spiritueux mpl, alcool m;
in good spirits → de bonne humeur;
in low spirits → démoralisé(e);
community spirit → solidarité f;
public spirit → civisme m

German spirit [ˈspɪrɪt] nGeist m;
(soul) → Seele f;
(energy) → Elan m, Schwung m;
(courage) → Mut m;
(sense) → Geist m, Sinn m;
(frame of mind) → Stimmung f;
spirits npl (drink) → Spirituosen pl;
in good spirits → guter Laune;
community spirit → Gemeinschaftssinn m

Italian spirit [ˈspɪrɪt] n (= soul) → spirito, anima (= ghost); spirito, fantasma m (= mood); stato d'animo, umore m (= courage); coraggio;
spirits npl (= drink) → alcolici mpl;
in good spirits → di buon umore;
in low spirits → triste, abbattuto/a;
community spirit, public spirit → senso civico

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Three metamorphoses of the spirit do I designate to you: how the spirit becometh a camel, the camel a lion, and the lion at last a child.
DOWN in the deep blue sea lived Ripple, a happy little Water-Spirit; all day long she danced beneath the coral arches, made garlands of bright ocean flowers, or floated on the great waves that sparkled in the sunlight; but the pastime that she loved best was lying in the many-colored shells upon the shore, listening to the low, murmuring music the waves had taught them long ago; and here for hours the little Spirit lay watching the sea and sky, while singing gayly to herself.
Last of all they killed his children, three young girls, and would have assegaied their mother, when suddenly a spirit entered into her at the sight, and she went mad, so that they let her go, being afraid to touch her afterwards.
 
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