[en-thoo-zee-ast, -ist] 
| 1. | a person who is filled with enthusiasm for some principle, pursuit, etc.; a person of ardent zeal: a sports enthusiast. |
| 2. | a religious visionary or fanatic. |
s one inspired, equiv. to enthousi- (see enthusiasm ) + -astēs, var. of -istēs -ist after i
| en·thu·si·ast (ěn-thōō'zē-āst') n.
[Greek enthousiastēs, possessed person, from enthousiazein, to be inspired; see enthusiasm.] |