spirit

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search
See also Spirit, and špirit

Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

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”). Cognate with Old English fisting (“(silent) breaking of wind”). Displaced native Middle English gast (“spirit”) (from Old English gāst (“breath, soul, spirit”)). More at fist.

Pronunciation [edit]

  • (UK) IPA: /ˈspɪɹɪt/
  • (US) IPA: /ˈspiɹɪt/, /ˈspɪɹɪt/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪrɪt
  • Hyphenation: spir‧it

Noun [edit]

spirit (plural spirits)

  1. The undying essence of a human. The soul.
  2. A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.
  3. enthusiasm
    School spirit is at an all-time high.
    • 2011 October 1, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2 - 2 West Brom”, BBC Sport:
      The result may not quite give the Wearsiders a sweet ending to what has been a sour week, following allegations of sexual assault and drug possession against defender Titus Bramble, but it does at least demonstrate that their spirit remains strong in the face of adversity.
  4. The manner or style of something.
    In the spirit of forgiveness, we didn't press charges.
  5. (usually plural) A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.
  6. Energy.

Derived terms [edit]

Derived terms

Look at pages starting with spirit.

Translations [edit]

soul
supernatural being
enthusiasm
manner or style
alcohol

See also [edit]

Verb [edit]

spirit (third-person singular simple present spirits, present participle spiriting, simple past and past participle spirited)

  1. To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.
    • 2009 February 8, Dave Kehr, “Buñuel at His Wildest, in Circulation Again”, New York Times:
      God does not make an appearance, but the Devil (Ms. Pinal) emphatically does: first in the guise of a schoolgirl who tries to lure Simon down with the sight of her shapely legs; then as a bearded but blatantly female Jesus carrying a lamb; and finally as a stylishly coiffed woman who succeeds in spiriting Simon off, by means of a jet, to a Manhattan discotheque — Buñuel’s persuasive idea of hell.

Statistics [edit]

Romanian [edit]

Etymology [edit]

Borrowed from Latin spiritus. Cf. also spiriduș.

Noun [edit]

spirit n (plural spirite)

  1. spirit, ghost
  2. essence, psyche
  3. wit, genius
  4. manner, style

Declension [edit]

declension of spirit
singular plural
gender n indefinite articulation definite articulation indefinite articulation definite articulation
nominative/accusative un spirit spiritul niște spirite spiritele
genitive/dative unui spirit spiritului unor spirite spiritelor

Related terms [edit]

See also [edit]

Tok Pisin [edit]

Etymology [edit]

English spirit

Noun [edit]

spirit

  1. spirit (physical form of God)
    • 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, Genesis 1:2 (translation here):
      Tudak i karamapim bikpela wara na spirit bilong God i go i kam antap long en.


This entry has fewer than three known examples of actual usage, the minimum considered necessary for clear attestation, and may not be reliable. This language is subject to a special exemption for languages with limited documentation. If you speak it, please consider editing this entry or adding citations. See also Help and the Community Portal.
Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=spirit&oldid=20559475"