■ noun
1》 the non-physical part of a person which is the seat of emotions and character.
↘this regarded as surviving after the death of the body, often manifested as a ghost.
↘a supernatural being.
2》 the prevailing or typical quality or mood: the nation's egalitarian ~.
↘a person identified with their role or most prominent quality: he was a leading ~ in the conference.
↘( ~s ) a person's mood.
3》 courage, energy, and determination.
4》 the real meaning or intention of something as opposed to its strict verbal interpretation.
5》 chiefly Brit. strong distilled alcoholic drink such as rum.
↘[with modifier ] a volatile liquid, especially a fuel, prepared by distillation: aviation ~.
↘ archaic a solution of volatile components extracted from something: ~s of turpentine.
6》 archaic a highly refined substance or fluid thought to govern vital phenomena.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing , ~ed )
1》 (usu. ~ something away ) convey rapidly and secretly.
2》 ( ~ someone up ) archaic animate or cheer up someone.
Phrases
in (or in the ) ~ in thought or intention though not physically.
when the ~ moves one when one feels inclined to do something. [a phr. orig. in Quaker use, with ref. to the Holy Spirit.]
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr., from L. ~us 'breath, ~', from spirare 'breathe'.