Spirit

noun spirits · spir't

1. countable, uncountable The soul of a person or other creature. […] St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London. Close-packed, crushed by the buttressed height of the railway viaduct, rendered airless by huge walls of factories, it at once banished lively interest from a stranger's mind and
2. countable, uncountable A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel. A wandering spirit haunts the island.
3. countable, uncountable Enthusiasm. School spirit is at an all-time high.
4. countable, uncountable Energy; ardour. "Write it then, quickly," replied Bede; and summoning all his spirits together, like the last blaze of a candle going out, he indited it, and expired.
5. countable, uncountable The manner or style of something. In the spirit of forgiveness, we didn't press charges.
6. countable, uncountable Intent; real meaning; opposed to the letter, or formal statement. the spirit of an enterprise, or of a document
7. countable, plural normally, uncountable A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages. CRYSTALS of Venus or of copper, called also vitriol of Venus, is copper reduced into the form of vitriol by spirit of nitre, or by dissolving verdegris in good distilled vinegar, till the acid be saturated; it is very caustic and used to eat off proud flesh. It is also used by painters, and manufact
8. countable, uncountable One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper. a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit
9. countable, in plural, often, uncountable Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state. to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be down-hearted, or in bad spirits
10. countable, obsolete, uncountable Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself. For else he sure had left not one aliue,>br>But all in his reuenge of spirite would depriue.
11. countable, obsolete, uncountable A rough breathing; an aspirate, such as the letter h; also, a mark denoting aspiration. Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use of it.
12. countable, obsolete, uncountable Any of the four substances: sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).
13. countable, uncountable Stannic chloride.
14. countable, uncountable The essence behind historical development of both individual and society evolving towards the Absolute.

Similar: spirit, liqueur, liquor, apparition, specter, vision

verb spirits · spiriting · spirited · spir't

1. To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery. I felt as if I had been spirited into some castle of felicity.
2. Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit. Civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men.

proper noun

1. abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit Around us the history of the land has centred for thrice a hundred years; out of the nation's heart we have called all that was best to throttle and subdue all that was worst; fire and blood, prayer and sacrifice, have billowed over this people, and they have found peace only in the altars of the Go