spirit
Americannoun
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the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.
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the incorporeal part of humans.
present in spirit though absent in body.
- Synonyms:
- essence , consciousness , mind , life
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the soul regarded as separating from the body at death.
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conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter.
the world of spirit.
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a supernatural, incorporeal being, especially one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character.
evil spirits.
- Synonyms:
- shade , phantom , apparition
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a fairy, sprite, or elf.
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an angel or demon.
- Synonyms:
- genius
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an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action.
the spirit of reform.
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(initial capital letter) the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart.
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a divine, inspiring, or animating being or influence. Numbers 11:25; Isaiah 32:15.
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(initial capital letter) the third person of the Trinity; Holy Spirit.
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the soul or heart as the seat of feelings or sentiments, or as prompting to action.
a man of broken spirit.
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spirits, feelings or mood with regard to exaltation or depression.
low spirits; good spirits.
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excellent disposition or attitude in terms of vigor, courage, firmness of intent, etc.; mettle.
That's the spirit!
- Synonyms:
- enterprise , fire , ardor , zeal , energy , enthusiasm
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temper or disposition.
meek in spirit.
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an individual as characterized by a given attitude, disposition, character, action, etc..
A few brave spirits remained to face the danger.
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the dominant tendency or character of anything.
the spirit of the age.
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vigorous sense of membership in a group.
college spirit.
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the general meaning or intent of a statement, document, etc. (letter ).
the spirit of the law.
- Synonyms:
- purport , significance , intention
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Chemistry. the essence or active principle of a substance as extracted in liquid form, especially by distillation.
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Often spirits a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.
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Chiefly British. alcohol.
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Pharmacology. a solution in alcohol of an essential or volatile principle; essence.
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any of certain subtle fluids formerly supposed to permeate the body.
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the Spirit, God
adjective
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pertaining to something that works by burning alcoholic spirits.
a spirit stove.
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of or relating to spiritualist bodies or activities.
verb (used with object)
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to animate with fresh ardor or courage; inspirit.
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to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.
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to carry off mysteriously or secretly (often followed by away oroff ).
His captors spirited him away.
idioms
noun
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the force or principle of life that animates the body of living things
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temperament or disposition
truculent in spirit
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liveliness; mettle
they set to it with spirit
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the fundamental, emotional, and activating principle of a person; will
the experience broke his spirit
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a sense of loyalty or dedication
team spirit
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the prevailing element; feeling
a spirit of joy pervaded the atmosphere
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state of mind or mood; attitude
he did it in the wrong spirit
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(plural) an emotional state, esp with regard to exaltation or dejection
in high spirits
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a person characterized by some activity, quality, or disposition
a leading spirit of the movement
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the deeper more significant meaning as opposed to a pedantic interpretation
the spirit of the law
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that which constitutes a person's intangible being as contrasted with his physical presence
I shall be with you in spirit
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an incorporeal being, esp the soul of a dead person
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( as modifier )
spirit world
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verb
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to carry off mysteriously or secretly
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(often foll by up) to impart animation or determination to
noun
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(often plural) any distilled alcoholic liquor such as brandy, rum, whisky, or gin
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chem
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an aqueous solution of ethanol, esp one obtained by distillation
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the active principle or essence of a substance, extracted as a liquid, esp by distillation
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pharmacol
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a solution of a volatile substance, esp a volatile oil, in alcohol
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( as modifier )
a spirit burner
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alchemy any of the four substances sulphur, mercury, sal ammoniac, or arsenic
noun
-
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another name for the Holy Spirit
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God, esp when regarded as transcending material limitations
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the influence of God or divine things upon the soul
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Christian Science God or divine substance
Related Words
See ghost.
Other Word Forms
- nonspirit noun
- outspirit verb (used with object)
- spiritlike adjective
- unspiriting adjective
Etymology
Origin of spirit
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English (noun), from Latin spīritus originally, “a breathing,” equivalent to spīri-, combining form representing spīrāre “to breathe” + -tus suffix of verb action
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That ritual whetted his curiosity about his nation’s native spirit.
But the Tottenham man - whose family boasts a fascinating history, with both his father and grandfather serving in the Zairean army - showed his fighting spirit and settled into the contest.
From BBC
"To show such a performance should give us lots of belief. If we show such spirit and togetherness we have a great chance to win the points," Farke added.
From BBC
"He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language," United Agents added.
From BBC
"He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language," it said.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
