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spirit
[ spir-it ]
/ ˈspɪr ɪt /
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noun
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)
OTHER WORDS FOR spirit
7 genius.
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Idioms about spirit
out of spirits, in low spirits; depressed: We were feeling out of spirits after so many days of rain.
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
synonym study for spirit
5. See ghost.
OTHER WORDS FROM spirit
spir·it·like, adjectivenon·spir·it, nounoutspirit, verb (used with object)un·spir·it·ing, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spirit
spirit , spriteWords nearby spirit
spirelet, spireme, Spires, spiriferous, spirillum, spirit, spirit away, Spirit Cave, spirit compass, spirited, spirit gum
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use spirit in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for spirit (1 of 3)
spirit1
/ (ˈspɪrɪt) /
noun
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)
spirit2
/ (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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with spirit
spirit
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.