I. ˈspir-ət noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, espirit, spirit, from Latin spiritus, literally, breath, from spirare to blow, breathe
Date: 13th century
1. : an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms
2. : a supernatural being or essence: as
a. capitalized : Holy Spirit
b. : soul 2a
c. : an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible ; specifically : ghost 2
d. : a malevolent being that enters and possesses a human being
3. : temper or disposition of mind or outlook especially when vigorous or animated
in high spirit s
4. : the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person
5.
a. : the activating or essential principle influencing a person
acted in a spirit 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 spirit was for a time driven back — J. A. Froude
b. : the feeling, quality, or disposition characterizing something
undertaken in a spirit 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 spirit
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 plural
(2) : any of various volatile liquids obtained by distillation or cracking (as of petroleum, shale, or wood) — often used in plural
b. : a usually volatile organic solvent (as an alcohol, ester, or hydrocarbon)
11.
a. : prevailing tone or tendency
spirit of the age
b. : general intent or real meaning
spirit of the law
12. : an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance
spirit of camphor
13. : enthusiastic loyalty
school spirit
14. capitalized , Christian Science : god 1b
Synonyms: see courage
II. transitive verb
Date: 1608
1. : to infuse with spirit ; especially : animate
hope and apprehension of feasibleness spirit s all industry — John Goodman
2. : to carry off usually secretly or mysteriously
was hustled into a…motorcar and spirit ed off to the country — W. L. Shirer