spirit

—spiritlike, adj.

/spir"it/, n.

1. the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.

2. the incorporeal part of humans: present in spirit though absent in body.

3. the soul regarded as separating from the body at death.

4. conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter: the world of spirit.

5. a supernatural, incorporeal being, esp. one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character: evil spirits.

6. a fairy, sprite, or elf.

7. an angel or demon.

8. an attitude or principle that inspires, animates, or pervades thought, feeling, or action: the spirit of reform.

9. (cap.) the divine influence as an agency working in the human heart.

10. a divine, inspiring, or animating being or influence. Num. 11:25; Is. 32:15.

11. (cap.) the third person of the Trinity; Holy Spirit.

12. the soul or heart as the seat of feelings or sentiments, or as prompting to action: a man of broken spirit.

13. spirits, feelings or mood with regard to exaltation or depression: low spirits; good spirits.

14. excellent disposition or attitude in terms of vigor, courage, firmness of intent, etc.; mettle: That's the spirit!

15. temper or disposition: meek in spirit.

16. an individual as characterized by a given attitude, disposition, character, action, etc.: A few brave spirits remained to face the danger.

17. the dominant tendency or character of anything: the spirit of the age.

18. vigorous sense of membership in a group: college spirit.

19. the general meaning or intent of a statement, document, etc. (opposed to letter): the spirit of the law.

20. Chem. the essence or active principle of a substance as extracted in liquid form, esp. by distillation.

21. Often, spirits. a strong distilled alcoholic liquor.

22. Chiefly Brit. alcohol.

23. Pharm. a solution in alcohol of an essential or volatile principle; essence.

24. any of certain subtle fluids formerly supposed to permeate the body.

25. out of spirits, in low spirits; depressed: We were feeling out of spirits after so many days of rain.

26. the Spirit, God.

adj.

27. pertaining to something that works by burning alcoholic spirits: a spirit stove.

28. of or pertaining to spiritualist bodies or activities.

v.t.

29. to animate with fresh ardor or courage; inspirit.

30. to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.

31. to carry off mysteriously or secretly (often fol. by away or off): His captors spirited him away.

[1200-50; ME (n.) < L spiritus orig., a breathing, equiv. to spiri-, comb. form repr. spirare to breathe + -tus suffix of v. action]

Syn. 2. life, mind, consciousness, essence. 5. apparition, phantom, shade. See ghost. 6. goblin, hobgoblin. 7. genius. 14. enthusiasm, energy, zeal, ardor, fire, enterprise. 15. attitude, mood, humor. 17. nature, drift, tenor, gist, essence, sense, complexion. 19. intention, significance, purport.

* * *

      any of numerous alcoholic beverages produced by distillation. See distilled liquor (distilled spirit).

* * *