noun energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, ·etc.
2. spirit ·noun stannic chloride. ·see under stannic.
3. spirit ·noun a solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. ·cf. tincture.
4. spirit ·noun air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.
5. spirit ·noun tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities.
6. spirit ·noun specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body.
7. spirit ·noun a rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing.
8. spirit ·noun any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).
9. spirit ·noun rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors.
10. spirit ·noun any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf.
11. spirit ·vt to convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap;
often with away, or off.
12. spirit ·noun one who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit.
13. spirit ·noun any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine):
often in the plural.
14. spirit ·noun temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state;
often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits.
15. spirit ·noun the intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material.
xvi. spirit ·noun life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter.
xvii. spirit ·vt to animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men;
sometimes followed by up.
xviii. spirit ·noun intent; real meaning;
opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like.