spirit

plural spirits · alternative Early Modern spir't

1. countableuncountableThe soul of a person or other creature.

   […] a triumph of the spirit over the flesh.

   1967, MacCormack, Woman Times Seven

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   […] 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 left only a dull oppression of the spirit.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   I don't understand these people who call themselves spiritual advisors. Franklin Graham, the unfortunate son of Billy Graham, is George Bush's spiritual advisor. Bill Clinton had Jesse Jackson. Here's the part I don't understand: How can someone else advise you on your spirit? Isn't spirit an intensely personal, internal thing? Doesn't it, by its very nature, elude definition, much less analysis? What kind of advice could some drone who has devoted his life to the self-deception of religion possibly give you about your spirit? It sounds like a hustle to me.

   2004, George Carlin, “THAT'S THE SPIRIT”, in When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 20

   Turians believe that groups and areas have "spirits" that transcend the individual. For example, a military unit would be considered to have a literal spirit that embodies the honor and courage it has displayed. A city's spirit reflects the accomplishments and industry of its residents. An ancient tree's spirit reflects the beauty and tranquility of the area it grows within. These spirits are neither good nor evil, nor are they appealed to for intercession. Turians do not believe spirits can affect the world, but spirits can inspire the living. Prayers and rituals allow an individual to converse with a spirit for guidance or inspiration. For example a turian who finds his loyalty tested may appeal to the spirit of his unit, hoping to reconnect with the pride and honor of the group. A turian who wishes to create a work of art may attempt to connect with the spirit of a beautiful location.

   2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Turians: Religion Codex entry

2. countableuncountableA supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.

   He has seen spirits roam the house.

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   A wandering spirit haunts the island.

   Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions and notions of spirits and goblins[…] in the dark.

   1693, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education

   An unusual custom is followed at Llangennith, when shotguns are fired at a wedding - to scare off evil spirits from the newlyweds.

   1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 258

   Walk slowly with a spirit by your side.

   2009, Alexander Perls, “With a Spirit” (track 10), in 009 Sound System, performed by Alexander Perls

3. A feeling of passion.
   1. countableuncountableEnthusiasm.

      School spirit is at an all-time high.

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      The result may not quite give the Wearsiders a sweet ending to what has been a sour week, following allegations of sexual assault and drug possession against defender Titus Bramble, but it does at least demonstrate that their spirit remains strong in the face of adversity.

      2011 October 1, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2-2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport

   2. countableuncountableEnergy; 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.

      1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI)

4. countableuncountableThe manner or style of something.

   In the spirit of forgiveness, we didn't press charges.

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   No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or[…]. And at last I began to realize in my harassed soul that all elusion was futile, and to take such holidays as I could get, when he was off with a girl, in a spirit of thankfulness.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 46

   A perfect judge will read each work of wit / With the same spirit that its author writ.

   1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC

5. countableuncountableIntent; real meaning; opposed to the letter, or formal statement.

   the spirit of an enterprise, or of a document

6. countableplural normallyuncountableA volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.

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   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 manufacturers, and sold under the name of distilled vinegar. See CHEMISTRY.

   1807, A New and Complete Encyclopaedia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences: Vol III, page 48

   Another pair of terms which caused some confusion were Spirit of Saturn and Spirit of Venus, names suggesting compounds of lead and copper respectively. Jean Beguin described the preparation from minium and distilled vinegar of a liquid he called burning spirit of Saturn, because it was inflammable and he thought it was a compound of lead. Actually the lead takes no part in the reaction and the product of distilling lead acetate is impure acetone. Beguin’s terminology did not go without comment however, for Christopher Glaser later referred to ‘A burning Spirit of Saturn (as it is called) but rather, a Spirit of the Volatile Salt of Vinegar’. Tachenius referred to the product of distillation of copper acetate as ‘pretended spirit of Venus’ because it was really only distilled vinegar - the meaning which Macquer gave to the expression. It is typical of the confusion of terminology in early chemistry that the London Pharmacopoeia of 1721 gave the name Spiritus Veneris to sulphuric acid obtained by the distillation of copper sulphate.

   2004, Maurice P. Crosland, Historical Studies in the Language of Chemistry, page 89

7. countableuncountableOne who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper.

   a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit

   1 more example

   Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges.

   1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

8. countablein pluraloftenuncountableTemper 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

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   God has […] made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down.

   1667, Robert South, Sermon VII

9. countableobsoleteuncountableAir 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.

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 36

   1 more example

   But the milde air with season moderate / Gently attempred, and disposd so well, / That still it breathed forth sweet spirit & holesome smell.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 51

10. countableobsoleteuncountableA 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.

    1640, Ben Jonson, The English Grammar

11. countableobsoleteuncountablealchemyAny of the four substances: sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).
12. countableuncountablebusinessStannic chloride.
13. countableuncountableHegelianhuman sciencesThe essence behind historical development of both individual and society evolving towards the Absolute.

present singular third person spirits · participle present spiriting · participle past spirited · past spirited · alternative Early Modern 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.

   1835, Nathaniel Parker Willis, Pencillings by the Way

   2 more examples

   When I was young and full of grace, I sprited a rattlesnake. When I was young, a fever fell my spirit; I will not tell. You're on your honor not to tell.

   1986 July 28, R.E.M., “I Believe”, in Lifes Rich Pageant

   God does not make an appearance, but the Devil (Ms. Pinal) emphatically does: first in the guise of a schoolgirl who tries to lure Simon down with the sight of her shapely legs; then as a bearded but blatantly female Jesus carrying a lamb; and finally as a stylishly coiffed woman who succeeds in spiriting Simon off, by means of a jet, to a Manhattan discotheque — Buñuel’s persuasive idea of hell.

   2009 February 8, Dave Kehr, “Buñuel at His Wildest, in Circulation Again”, in New York Times

2. Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit.

   Civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men.

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   [H]e left behind many Officers and private Men, vvho novv ſpirit-up and aſſiſt thoſe obſtinate People to continue in their Rebellion.

   1714 February, [Jonathan Swift], The Publick Spirit of the Whigs: Set forth in Their Generous Encouragement of the Author of the Crisis: […], London: […] [John Barber] for John Morphew, […], →OCLC, page 39

1. abbreviationellipsisChristianityEllipsis of Holy Spirit.

   1 more example

   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 God of Right. Nor has our gift of the Spirit been merely passive.

   1903, W. E. B. DuBois, chapter 14, in The Souls of Black Folk