spirit
English
Etymology
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
- (UK) IPA: /ˈspɪɹɪt/
- (US) IPA: /ˈspiɹɪt/, /ˈspɪɹɪt/
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Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪrɪt
- Hyphenation: spir‧it
Noun
spirit (plural spirits)
- The undying essence of a human. The soul.
- A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.
- 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.
- The manner or style of something.
- In the spirit of forgiveness, we didn't press charges.
- (usually plural) A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.
- Energy.
Derived terms
Derived terms
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Look at pages starting with spirit.
Translations
soul
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supernatural being
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enthusiasm
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manner or style
alcohol
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See also
Verb
spirit (third-person singular simple present spirits, present participle spiriting, simple past and past participle spirited)
- 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.
- 2009 February 8, Dave Kehr, “Buñuel at His Wildest, in Circulation Again”, New York Times:
Statistics
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Most common English words before 1923: early · saying · talk · #450: spirit · sometimes · account · party
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin spiritus. Cf. also spiriduș.
Noun
Declension
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
See also
Tok Pisin
Etymology
English spirit
Noun
spirit
- 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.
- 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, Genesis 1:2 (translation here):
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