enthusiasm

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Related terms 1.3.2 Translations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

First attested from 1603, from Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιασμός, from ἔνθεος ‘possessed by a god’, from ἐν- ‘in’ + θεός ‘god’.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɛnˈθjuːzɪæzəm/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

enthusiasm (plural enthusiasms)

1. (obsolete or historical) Possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, ch. 1

     The intoxication that they sought was that of ‘enthusiasm’, of union with the god.

2. Intensity of feeling; excited interest or eagerness.

[edit] Related terms

• enthuse
• enthusiast
• enthusiastic
• enthusiastically

[edit] Translations