# spirit

Pronunciation: say "SPIR-it" /ˈspɪɹɪt/

## Noun

1. A supernatural being, often without physical form, such as a ghost, fairy, or angel.
   - Simple: A ghost, fairy, angel, or other magical being, often one with no body.
   - _According to local legend, a restless spirit wanders the abandoned manor at night._
   - _Folk traditions describe helpful spirits that guard the home and bring good fortune._
2. A person's temper, mood, or state of mind; one's mental or moral disposition.
   - Simple: The state of someone's mind or mood, or how they feel inside.
   - _His generous spirit showed in everything he did._
   - _The travelers arrived tired but in good spirits._
3. The distinctive manner, style, or character of something.
   - Simple: The special character or feeling of something, or the way something is done.
   - _The festival was organized in the spirit of community and celebration._
   - _Her painting captures the spirit of the old town perfectly._
4. The soul of a person or other living creature, regarded as distinct from the body.
   - Simple: The soul of a person or animal, thought of as separate from the body.
   - _The funeral service offered comfort, assuring mourners that her spirit lived on._
   - _Many faiths teach that the spirit survives the death of the body._
5. A strong alcoholic drink made by distillation, such as gin or whisky, often in the plural spirits; also, a volatile liquid such as alcohol or a solvent.
   - Simple: A strong alcoholic drink such as vodka or rum. It can also mean a liquid that turns to gas easily.
   - _Behind the bar stood rows of spirits, from Mexican tequila to Scotch whisky, along with a few local gins._
   - _By law, bourbon is a spirit that must be aged in new, charred oak barrels._
6. Energy, courage, and enthusiasm shown in what one does.
   - Simple: Energy, courage, and eagerness in the way someone acts.
   - _The horse galloped with a spirit that thrilled the onlookers._
   - _The soldiers fought with such spirit that they held the line._
7. The real intent or meaning behind something, as opposed to its literal wording.
   - Simple: The real meaning or aim behind a rule or text, not just its exact words.
   - _Critics argued the new policy violated the spirit of the original agreement._
   - _He honored the spirit of the contract even where the text was silent._
9. The collective pride and loyalty that bind the members of a team, school, community, or other group, along with their feeling of belonging.
   - Simple: The proud, loyal feeling that people share when they belong to a team, school, or other group.
   - _After the flood, a strong community spirit kept neighbors checking on one another for months._
   - _Alumni donations soared, a sign that the old college spirit was still alive decades after graduation._
8. A lively or vivacious person; one who shows great energy or a distinctive turn of mind or temper.
   - Simple: A lively, active person with a strong or unusual character.
   - _She was a restless spirit, forever chasing the next big idea._
   - _The poet was a wild spirit who lived entirely by his own rules._
15. In Christian belief, the Holy Spirit, held to be the third person of the Trinity; usually written with the and a capital S.
   - Simple: In Christianity, the Holy Spirit, one of the three persons that make up God. Usually written the Spirit.
   - _The creed names the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as one God._
   - _Several members of the congregation said they felt the Spirit moving during the evening service._

## Verb

10. To carry someone or something off quickly, secretly, or mysteriously.
   - Simple: To take someone or something away quickly and secretly.
   - _Smugglers spirit refugees across the border under cover of darkness._
   - _Someone had spirited the painting out of the gallery before dawn._
11. To rouse someone to energy and enthusiasm; to encourage or inspirit, often followed by 'up.'
   - Simple: To fill someone with energy and courage, often said as 'spirit up.'

## Noun

12. Breath, or air moved by breathing; hence, at times, life itself. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: The air a person breathes, and in old use also breath or life itself.
13. A rough breathing or aspirate, such as the sound of the letter h; also, the written mark indicating aspiration. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: In old grammar, an 'h' sound, or the small mark that shows it.
14. In alchemy, any of the four substances sulfur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, by some accounts, orpiment). *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: In alchemy, any of four key substances, which were sulfur, sal ammoniac, mercury and arsenic.

## Other meanings

- (noun) Stannic chloride, a tin compound used in the dyeing and finishing of textiles.

## Origin

It comes from Middle English "spirit," from Old French "espirit," from Latin "spīritus" meaning "breath" or "spirit," possibly ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to blow, breathe." It is related to words like "inspire," "respire," and "transpire," and is a doublet of "sprite" and "esprit."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/spirit (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).