c.1250, "animating or vital principle in man and animals," from O.Fr. espirit, from L. spiritus "soul, courage, vigor, breath," related to spirare "to breathe," from PIE *(s)peis- "to blow" (cf. O.C.S. pisto "to play on the flute"). Original usage in Eng. mainly from passages in Vulgate, where the L. word translates Gk. pneuma and Heb. ruah. Distinction between "soul" and "spirit" (as "seat of emotions") became current in Christian terminology (e.g. Gk. psykhe vs. pneuma, L. anima vs. spiritus) but "is without significance for earlier periods" [Buck]. L. spiritus, usually in classical L. "breath," replaces animus in the sense "spirit" in the imperial period and appears in Christian writings as the usual equivalent of Gk. pneuma. Meaning "supernatural being" is attested from c.1300 (see ghost); that of "essential principle of something" (in a non-theological sense, e.g. Spirit of St. Louis) is attested from 1690, common after 1800. Plural form spirits "volatile substance" is an alchemical idea, first attested 1610; sense narrowed to "strong alcoholic liquor" by 1678. This also is the sense in spirit level (1768).
1599, "to make more active or energetic" (of blood, alcohol, etc.), from spirit (n.). The verb meaning "carry off or away secretly (as though by supernatural agency)" is first recorded 1666. Spirited "lively, energetic" is from 1599.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
2.
the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people; "the feel of the city excited him"; "a clergyman improved the tone of the meeting"; "it had the smell of treason"
3.
a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character
4.
any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings
5.
the state of a person's emotions (especially with regard to pleasure or dejection); "his emotional state depended on her opinion"; "he was in good spirits"; "his spirit rose" [syn: emotional state]
6.
the intended meaning of a communication [syn: intent]
7.
animation and energy in action or expression; "it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it" [syn: liveliness]
8.
an inclination or tendency of a certain kind; "he had a change of heart" [syn: heart]
a principle or emotion which makes someone act Example: The spirit of kindness seems to be lacking in the world nowadays.
Arabic:
روح، مَبْدأ
Chinese (Simplified):
精神，道义，感情
Chinese (Traditional):
精神，道義，感情
Czech:
duch
Danish:
ånd
Dutch:
geest
Estonian:
vaim, meelsus
Finnish:
henki
French:
esprit
German:
der Geist
Greek:
πνεύμα, αίσθηση
Hungarian:
szellem
Icelandic:
hugarfar
Indonesian:
semangat
Italian:
spirito
Japanese:
精神
Korean:
정신, 마음
Latvian:
gars
Lithuanian:
dvasia
Norwegian:
ånd, kraft
Polish:
uczucie, nastawienie
Portuguese (Brazil):
espírito
Portuguese (Portugal):
espírito
Romanian:
spirit
Russian:
дух; настроение
Slovak:
duch
Slovenian:
duh
Spanish:
espíritu
Swedish:
anda, stämning, sinnelag
Turkish:
ruh
spirit2[ˈspirit]noun
a person's mind, will, personality etc thought of as distinct from the body, or as remaining alive eg as a ghost when the body dies Example: Our great leader may be dead, but his spirit still lives on; (also adjective) the spirit world; Evil spirits have taken possession of him.
Arabic:
روح الإنْسان، شَبَح
Chinese (Simplified):
精神，灵魂
Chinese (Traditional):
精神，靈魂
Czech:
duch(ovní)
Danish:
sjæl; ånd; åndelig
Dutch:
geest
Estonian:
hing, vaim
Finnish:
henki, sielu
French:
esprit; (adj.) des esprits
German:
der Geist
Greek:
πνεύμα
Hungarian:
lélek, szellem
Icelandic:
andi
Indonesian:
roh
Italian:
spirito; degli spiriti*
Japanese:
魂
Korean:
영혼, 혼, 신령
Latvian:
gars
Lithuanian:
dvasia
Norwegian:
ånd, sjel
Polish:
dusza, duch
Portuguese (Brazil):
espírito
Portuguese (Portugal):
espírito
Romanian:
spirit; duh
Russian:
душа, дух
Slovak:
duch; duchovný
Slovenian:
duh
Spanish:
espíritu
Swedish:
ande
Turkish:
ruh
spirit3[ˈspirit]noun
liveliness; courage Example: He acted with spirit.
Spirit Lake, IA (city, FIPS 74415) Location: 43.42277 N, 95.11141 W Population (1990): 3871 (1730 housing units) Area: 6.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 51360
Spirit Lake, ID (city, FIPS 76060) Location: 47.96796 N, 116.86972 W Population (1990): 790 (373 housing units) Area: 2.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 83869
An"i*mal\, a. [Cf. F. animal.]1. Of or relating to animals; as, animal functions. 2. Pertaining to the merely sentient part of a creature, as distinguished from the intellectual, rational, or spiritual part; as, the animal passions or appetites. 3. Consisting of the flesh of animals; as, animal food. Animal magnetism. See Magnetism and Mesmerism. Animal electricity, the electricity developed in some animals, as the electric eel, torpedo, etc. Animal flower (Zo["o]l.), a name given to certain marine animals resembling a flower, as any species of actinia or sea anemone, and other Anthozoa, hydroids, starfishes, etc. Animal heat (Physiol.), the heat generated in the body of a living animal, by means of which the animal is kept at nearly a uniform temperature. Animal spirits. See under Spirit. Animal kingdom, the whole class of beings endowed with animal life. It embraces several subkingdoms, and under these there are Classes, Orders, Families, Genera, Species, and sometimes intermediate groupings, all in regular subordination, but variously arranged by different writers. Note: The following are the grand divisions, or subkingdoms, and the principal classes under them, generally recognized at the present time: Vertebrata, including Mammalia or Mammals, Aves or Birds, Reptilia, Amphibia, Pisces or Fishes, Marsipobranchiata (Craniota); and Leptocardia (Acrania). Tunicata, including the Thaliacea, and Ascidioidea or Ascidians. Articulata or Annulosa, including Insecta, Myriapoda, Malacapoda, Arachnida, Pycnogonida, Merostomata, Crustacea (Arthropoda); and Annelida, Gehyrea (Anarthropoda). Helminthes or Vermes, including Rotifera, Ch[ae]tognatha, Nematoidea, Acanthocephala, Nemertina, Turbellaria, Trematoda, Cestoidea, Mesozea. Molluscoidea, including Brachiopoda and Bryozoa. Mollusca, including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Pteropoda, Scaphopoda, Lamellibranchiata or Acephala. Echinodermata, including Holothurioidea, Echinoidea, Asterioidea, Ophiuroidea, and Crinoidea. C[oe]lenterata, including Anthozoa or Polyps, Ctenophora, and Hydrozoa or Acalephs. Spongiozoa or Porifera, including the sponges. Protozoa, including Infusoria and Rhizopoda. For definitions, see these names in the Vocabulary.
Con*spire"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conspired; p. pr. & vb. n. Conspiring.] [F. conspirer, L. onspirare to blow together, harmonize, agree, plot; con- + spirare to breathe, blow. See Spirit.]1. To make an agreement, esp. a secret agreement, to do some act, as to commit treason or a crime, or to do some unlawful deed; to plot together. They conspired against [Joseph] to slay him. --Gen. xxxvii. 18. You have conspired against our royal person, Joined with an enemy proclaimed. --Shak. 2. To concur to one end; to agree. The press, the pulpit, and the stage Conspire to censure and expose our age. --Roscommon. Syn: To unite; concur; complot; confederate; league.
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