[spir.it] n [ME, fr. OF or L; OF, fr. L spiritus, lit., breath, fr. spirare to blow, breathe] (13c) 1: an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms
2: a supernatural being or essence: as a cap: holy spirit b: soul 2a c: an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible; specif: ghost
2. d: a malevolen t being that enters and possesses a human being
3: temper or disposition of mind or outlook esp. when vigorous or animated "in high ~s"
4: the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person
5. a: the activating or essential principle influencing a person "acted in a ~ of helpfulness" b: an inclination, impulse, or tendency of a specified kind: mood
6. a: a special attitude or frame of mind "the money-making ~ was for a time driven back --J. A. Froude" b: the feeling, quality, or disposition characterizing something "undertaken in a ~ of fun" 7: a lively or brisk quality in a person or a person's actions 8: a person having a character or disposition of a specified nature 9: a mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness "denied the charge with ~"
10. a: distillate 1: as (1): the liquid containing ethyl alcohol and water that is distilled from an alcoholic liquid or mash--often used in pl. (2): any of various volatile liquids obtained by distillation or cracking (as of petroleum, shale, or wood)--often used in pl. b: a usu. volatile organic solvent (as an alcohol, ester, or hydrocarbon) 11 a: prevailing tone or tendency "~ of the age" b: general intent or real meaning "~ of the law" 12: an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance "~ of camphor" 13: enthusiastic loyalty "school ~" 14 cap, Christian Science: god 1b syn see courage
[2]spirit vt (1608) 1: to infuse with spirit; esp: animate "hope and apprehension of feasibleness ~s all industry --John Goodman"
2: to carry off usu. secretly or mysteriously "was hustled into a ... motorcar and ~ed off to the country --W. L. Shirer"