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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SPIR'IT, n. [L. spiritus, from spiro, to breathe, to blow. The primary sense is to rush or drive.]
1. Primarily, wind; air in motion; hence, breath. All bodies have spirits and pneumatical parts within them. [This sense is now unusual.]
2. Animal excitement, or the effect of it; life; ardor; fire; courage; elevation or vehemence of mind. The troops attacked the enemy with great spirit. The young man has the spirit of youth. He speaks or act with spirit. Spirits, in the plural, is used in nearly a like sense. The troops began to recover their spirits.
3. Vigor of intellect; genius. His wit, his beauty and his spirit. The noblest spirit or genius cannot deserve enough of mankind to pretend to the esteem of heroic virtue.
4. Temper; disposition of mind, habitual or temporary; as a man of a generous spirit, or of a revengeful spirit; the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Let us go to the house of God in the spirit of prayer.
5. The soul of man; the intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of human beings. [See Soul.] the spirit shall return to God that gave it. Eceles. 12.
6. An immaterial intelligent substance. Spirit is a substance in which thinking, knowing, doubting, and a power of moving do subsist. Hence,
7. An immaterial intelligent being. By which he went and preached to the spirit in prison. I Pet. 3. God is a spirit. John 4.
8. Turn of mind; temper; occasions; state of the mind. A perfect judge will read each work of wit, with the same spirit that its author writ.
9. Powers of mind distinct from the body. In spirit perhaps he also saw Rich Mexico, the seat of Montezume.
10. Sentiment; perception. You spirit is too true, your fears too certain.
11. Eager desire; disposition of mind excited and directed to a particular object. God has made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down.
12. A person of activity; a man of life, vigor or enterprise. The watery kingdom is no bar to stop the foreign spirits, but they come.
13. Persons distinguished by qualities of the mind. Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges.
14. Excitement of mind; animation; cheerfulness; usually in the plural. We found our friend in very good spirits. He has a great flow of spirits. -To sing thy praise, would heaven my breath prolong, Infusing spirits worthy such a song.
15. Life or strength of resemblance; essential qualities; as, to set off the face in its true spirit. The copy has not the spirit of the original.
16. Something eminently pure and refined. Nor doth the eye itself, that most pure spirit of sense, behold itself.
17. That which hath power or energy; the quality of any substance which manifest life, activity, or the power of strongly affecting other bodies; as the spirit of wine or of any liquor.
18. A strong, pungent or stimulation liquor, usually obtained by distillation, as rum, brandy, gin, whiskey. In America, spirit, used without other words explanatory of its meaning, signifies the liquor distilled from cane-juice, or rum. We say, new spirit, or old spirit, Jamaica spirit, etc.
19. An apparition; a ghost.
20. The renewed nature of man. Matthew 26. Galatians 5.
21. The influences of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 22.
HOLY SPIRIT, the third person in the Trinity.
SPIRIT, v.t.
1. To animate; to actuate; as a spirit.
So talkd the spirited sly snake. [Little used.]
2. To animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; as, civil dissensions spirit the ambition of private man.
It is sometimes followed by up; as, to spirit up.
3. To kidnap.
To spirit away, to entice or seduce.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: 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" [syn: spirit, tone, feel, feeling, flavor, flavour, look, smell]
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 [syn: spirit, disembodied spirit]
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, spirit]
6: the intended meaning of a communication [syn: intent, purport, spirit]
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, life, spirit, sprightliness]
8: an inclination or tendency of a certain kind; "he had a change of heart" [syn: heart, spirit] v
1: infuse with spirit; "The company spirited him up" [syn: spirit, spirit up, inspirit]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French, espirit, spirit, from Latin spiritus, literally, breath, from spirare to blow, breathe Date: 13th century 1. an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms 2. a supernatural being or essence: as a. capitalized Holy Spirit b. soul 2a c. an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible; specifically ghost 2 d. a malevolent being that enters and possesses a human being 3. temper or disposition of mind or outlook especially when vigorous or animated <in high spirits> 4. the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person 5. a. the activating or essential principle influencing a person <acted in a spirit of helpfulness> b. an inclination, impulse, or tendency of a specified kind ; mood 6. a. a special attitude or frame of mind <the money-making spirit was for a time driven back — J. A. Froude> b. the feeling, quality, or disposition characterizing something <undertaken in a spirit of fun> 7. a lively or brisk quality in a person or a person's actions 8. a person having a character or disposition of a specified nature 9. a mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness <denied the charge with spirit> 10. a. distillate
1: as (1) the liquid containing ethyl alcohol and water that is distilled from an alcoholic liquid or mash — often used in plural (2) any of various volatile liquids obtained by distillation or cracking (as of petroleum, shale, or wood) — often used in plural b. a usually volatile organic solvent (as an alcohol, ester, or hydrocarbon) 11. a. prevailing tone or tendency <spirit of the age> b. general intent or real meaning <spirit of the law> 12. an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance <spirit of camphor> 13. enthusiastic loyalty <school spirit> 14. capitalized, Christian Science god 1b Synonyms: see courage II. transitive verb Date: 1608 1. to infuse with spirit; especially animate <hope and apprehension of feasibleness spirits all industry — John Goodman> 2. to carry off usually secretly or mysteriously <was hustled into a…motorcar and spirited off to the country — W. L. Shirer>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a the vital animating essence of a person or animal (was sadly broken in spirit). b the intelligent non-physical part of a person; the soul. 2 a a rational or intelligent being without a material body. b a supernatural being such as a ghost, fairy, etc. (haunted by spirits). 3 a prevailing mental or moral condition or attitude; a mood; a tendency (public spirit; took it in the wrong spirit). 4 a (usu. in pl.) strong distilled liquor, e.g. brandy, whisky, gin, rum. b a distilled volatile liquid (wood spirit). c purified alcohol (methylated spirit). d a solution of a volatile principle in alcohol; a tincture (spirit of ammonia). 5 a a person's mental or moral nature or qualities, usu. specified (has an unbending spirit). b a person viewed as possessing these (is an ardent spirit). c (in full high spirit) courage, energy, vivacity, dash (played with spirit; infused him with spirit). 6 the real meaning as opposed to lip service or verbal expression (the spirit of the law). 7 archaic an immaterial principle thought to govern vital phenomena (animal spirits). --v.tr. (spirited, spiriting) (usu. foll. by away, off, etc.) convey rapidly and secretly by or as if by spirits. Phrases and idioms: in (or in the) spirit inwardly (shall be with you in spirit). spirit duplicator a duplicator using an alcoholic solution to reproduce copies from a master sheet. spirit gum a quick-drying solution of gum used esp. for attaching false hair. spirit-lamp a lamp burning methylated or other volatile spirits instead of oil. spirit-level a bent glass tube nearly filled with alcohol used to test horizontality by the position of an air-bubble. the spirit moves a person he or she feels inclined (to do something) (orig. in Quaker use). spirit (or spirits) of wine archaic purified alcohol. spirits of salt archaic hydrochloric acid. spirit up animate or cheer (a person). Etymology: ME f. AF (e)spirit, OF esp(e)rit, f. L spiritus breath, spirit f. spirare breathe

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spirit Spir"it, n. [OF. espirit, esperit, F. esprit, L. spiritus, from spirare to breathe, to blow. Cf. Conspire, Expire, Esprit, Sprite.] 1. Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself. [Obs.] ``All of spirit would deprive.'' --Spenser. The mild air, with season moderate, Gently attempered, and disposed eo well, That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit. --Spenser. 2. A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. [Obs.] Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it. --B. Jonson. 3. Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter. 4. The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material. There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. --Job xxxii. 8. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. --James ii. 26. Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing, doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist. --Locke. 5. Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. --Eccl. xii. 7. Ye gentle spirits far away, With whom we shared the cup of grace. --Keble. 6. Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf. Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark. --Locke. 7. Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc. ``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. --Fuller. 8. One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit. Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges. --Dryden. 9. Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; -- often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits. God has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down. --South. A perfect judge will read each work of wit With the same spirit that its author writ. --Pope. 10. Intent; real meaning; -- opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like. 11. Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities. All bodies have spirits . . . within them. --Bacon. 12. Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): -- often in the plural. 13. pl. Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors. 14. (Med.) A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture. --U. S. Disp. 15. (Alchemy) Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment). The four spirits and the bodies seven. --Chaucer. 16. (Dyeing) Stannic chloride. See under Stannic. Note: Spirit is sometimes joined with other words, forming compounds, generally of obvious signification; as, spirit-moving, spirit-searching, spirit-stirring, etc. Astral spirits, Familiar spirits, etc. See under Astral, Familiar, etc. Animal spirits. (a) (Physiol.) The fluid which at one time was supposed to circulate through the nerves and was regarded as the agent of sensation and motion; -- called also the nervous fluid, or nervous principle. (b) Physical health and energy; frolicsomeness; sportiveness. Ardent spirits, strong alcoholic liquors, as brandy, rum, whisky, etc., obtained by distillation. Holy Spirit, or The Spirit (Theol.), the Spirit of God, or the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Ghost. The spirit also signifies the human spirit as influenced or animated by the Divine Spirit. Proof spirit. (Chem.) See under Proof. Rectified spirit (Chem.), spirit rendered purer or more concentrated by redistillation, so as to increase the percentage of absolute alcohol. Spirit butterfly (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of delicate butterflies of tropical America belonging to the genus Ithomia. The wings are gauzy and nearly destitute of scales. Spirit duck. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The buffle-headed duck. (b) The golden-eye. Spirit lamp (Art), a lamp in which alcohol or methylated spirit is burned. Spirit level. See under Level. Spirit of hartshorn. (Old Chem.) See under Hartshorn. Spirit of Mindererus (Med.), an aqueous solution of acetate of ammonium; -- named after R. Minderer, physician of Augsburg. Spirit of nitrous ether (Med. Chem.), a pale yellow liquid, of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the distillation of alcohol with nitric and sulphuric acids, and consists essentially of ethyl nitrite with a little acetic aldehyde. It is used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc. Called also sweet spirit of niter. Spirit of salt (Chem.), hydrochloric acid; -- so called because obtained from salt and sulphuric acid. [Obs.] Spirit of sense, the utmost refinement of sensation. [Obs.] --Shak. Spirits, or Spirit, of turpentine (Chem.), rectified oil of turpentine, a transparent, colorless, volatile, and very inflammable liquid, distilled from the turpentine of the various species of pine; camphine. See Camphine. Spirit of vitriol (Chem.), sulphuric acid; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of green vitriol. [Obs.] Spirit of vitriolic ether (Chem.) ether; -- often but incorrectly called sulphuric ether. See Ether. [Obs.] Spirits, or Spirit, of wine (Chem.), alcohol; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of wine. Spirit rapper, one who practices spirit rapping; a ``medium'' so called. Spirit rapping, an alleged form of communication with the spirits of the dead by raps. See Spiritualism, 3. Sweet spirit of niter. See Spirit of nitrous ether, above.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spirit Spir"it, n. [OF. espirit, esperit, F. esprit, L. spiritus, from spirare to breathe, to blow. Cf. Conspire, Expire, Esprit, Sprite.] 1. Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself. [Obs.] ``All of spirit would deprive.'' --Spenser. The mild air, with season moderate, Gently attempered, and disposed eo well, That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit. --Spenser. 2. A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. [Obs.] Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it. --B. Jonson. 3. Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter. 4. The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material. There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. --Job xxxii. 8. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. --James ii. 26. Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing, doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist. --Locke. 5. Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. --Eccl. xii. 7. Ye gentle spirits far away, With whom we shared the cup of grace. --Keble. 6. Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf. Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark. --Locke. 7. Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc. ``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. --Fuller. 8. One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit. Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges. --Dryden. 9. Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; -- often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits. God has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down. --South. A perfect judge will read each work of wit With the same spirit that its author writ. --Pope. 10. Intent; real meaning; -- opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like. 11. Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities. All bodies have spirits . . . within them. --Bacon. 12. Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): -- often in the plural. 13. pl. Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors. 14. (Med.) A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture. --U. S. Disp. 15. (Alchemy) Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment). The four spirits and the bodies seven. --Chaucer. 16. (Dyeing) Stannic chloride. See under Stannic. Note: Spirit is sometimes joined with other words, forming compounds, generally of obvious signification; as, spirit-moving, spirit-searching, spirit-stirring, etc. Astral spirits, Familiar spirits, etc. See under Astral, Familiar, etc. Animal spirits. (a) (Physiol.) The fluid which at one time was supposed to circulate through the nerves and was regarded as the agent of sensation and motion; -- called also the nervous fluid, or nervous principle. (b) Physical health and energy; frolicsomeness; sportiveness. Ardent spirits, strong alcoholic liquors, as brandy, rum, whisky, etc., obtained by distillation. Holy Spirit, or The Spirit (Theol.), the Spirit of God, or the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Ghost. The spirit also signifies the human spirit as influenced or animated by the Divine Spirit. Proof spirit. (Chem.) See under Proof. Rectified spirit (Chem.), spirit rendered purer or more concentrated by redistillation, so as to increase the percentage of absolute alcohol. Spirit butterfly (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of delicate butterflies of tropical America belonging to the genus Ithomia. The wings are gauzy and nearly destitute of scales. Spirit duck. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The buffle-headed duck. (b) The golden-eye. Spirit lamp (Art), a lamp in which alcohol or methylated spirit is burned. Spirit level. See under Level. Spirit of hartshorn. (Old Chem.) See under Hartshorn. Spirit of Mindererus (Med.), an aqueous solution of acetate of ammonium; -- named after R. Minderer, physician of Augsburg. Spirit of nitrous ether (Med. Chem.), a pale yellow liquid, of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the distillation of alcohol with nitric and sulphuric acids, and consists essentially of ethyl nitrite with a little acetic aldehyde. It is used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc. Called also sweet spirit of niter. Spirit of salt (Chem.), hydrochloric acid; -- so called because obtained from salt and sulphuric acid. [Obs.] Spirit of sense, the utmost refinement of sensation. [Obs.] --Shak. Spirits, or Spirit, of turpentine (Chem.), rectified oil of turpentine, a transparent, colorless, volatile, and very inflammable liquid, distilled from the turpentine of the various species of pine; camphine. See Camphine. Spirit of vitriol (Chem.), sulphuric acid; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of green vitriol. [Obs.] Spirit of vitriolic ether (Chem.) ether; -- often but incorrectly called sulphuric ether. See Ether. [Obs.] Spirits, or Spirit, of wine (Chem.), alcohol; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of wine. Spirit rapper, one who practices spirit rapping; a ``medium'' so called. Spirit rapping, an alleged form of communication with the spirits of the dead by raps. See Spiritualism, 3. Sweet spirit of niter. See Spirit of nitrous ether, above.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spirit Spir"it, n. [OF. espirit, esperit, F. esprit, L. spiritus, from spirare to breathe, to blow. Cf. Conspire, Expire, Esprit, Sprite.] 1. Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself. [Obs.] ``All of spirit would deprive.'' --Spenser. The mild air, with season moderate, Gently attempered, and disposed eo well, That still it breathed foorth sweet spirit. --Spenser. 2. A rough breathing; an aspirate, as the letter h; also, a mark to denote aspiration; a breathing. [Obs.] Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use for it. --B. Jonson. 3. Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as distinct from matter. 4. The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material. There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. --Job xxxii. 8. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. --James ii. 26. Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing, doubting, and a power of moving, do subsist. --Locke. 5. Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left the body. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. --Eccl. xii. 7. Ye gentle spirits far away, With whom we shared the cup of grace. --Keble. 6. Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf. Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions of spirits and goblins in the dark. --Locke. 7. Energy, vivacity, ardor, enthusiasm, courage, etc. ``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. --Fuller. 8. One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper; as, a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit. Such spirits as he desired to please, such would I choose for my judges. --Dryden. 9. Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state; -- often in the plural; as, to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be downhearted, or in bad spirits. God has . . . made a spirit of building succeed a spirit of pulling down. --South. A perfect judge will read each work of wit With the same spirit that its author writ. --Pope. 10. Intent; real meaning; -- opposed to the letter, or to formal statement; also, characteristic quality, especially such as is derived from the individual genius or the personal character; as, the spirit of an enterprise, of a document, or the like. 11. Tenuous, volatile, airy, or vapory substance, possessed of active qualities. All bodies have spirits . . . within them. --Bacon. 12. Any liquid produced by distillation; especially, alcohol, the spirits, or spirit, of wine (it having been first distilled from wine): -- often in the plural. 13. pl. Rum, whisky, brandy, gin, and other distilled liquors having much alcohol, in distinction from wine and malt liquors. 14. (Med.) A solution in alcohol of a volatile principle. Cf. Tincture. --U. S. Disp. 15. (Alchemy) Any one of the four substances, sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, or arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment). The four spirits and the bodies seven. --Chaucer. 16. (Dyeing) Stannic chloride. See under Stannic. Note: Spirit is sometimes joined with other words, forming compounds, generally of obvious signification; as, spirit-moving, spirit-searching, spirit-stirring, etc. Astral spirits, Familiar spirits, etc. See under Astral, Familiar, etc. Animal spirits. (a) (Physiol.) The fluid which at one time was supposed to circulate through the nerves and was regarded as the agent of sensation and motion; -- called also the nervous fluid, or nervous principle. (b) Physical health and energy; frolicsomeness; sportiveness. Ardent spirits, strong alcoholic liquors, as brandy, rum, whisky, etc., obtained by distillation. Holy Spirit, or The Spirit (Theol.), the Spirit of God, or the third person of the Trinity; the Holy Ghost. The spirit also signifies the human spirit as influenced or animated by the Divine Spirit. Proof spirit. (Chem.) See under Proof. Rectified spirit (Chem.), spirit rendered purer or more concentrated by redistillation, so as to increase the percentage of absolute alcohol. Spirit butterfly (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of delicate butterflies of tropical America belonging to the genus Ithomia. The wings are gauzy and nearly destitute of scales. Spirit duck. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The buffle-headed duck. (b) The golden-eye. Spirit lamp (Art), a lamp in which alcohol or methylated spirit is burned. Spirit level. See under Level. Spirit of hartshorn. (Old Chem.) See under Hartshorn. Spirit of Mindererus (Med.), an aqueous solution of acetate of ammonium; -- named after R. Minderer, physician of Augsburg. Spirit of nitrous ether (Med. Chem.), a pale yellow liquid, of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the distillation of alcohol with nitric and sulphuric acids, and consists essentially of ethyl nitrite with a little acetic aldehyde. It is used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, antispasmodic, etc. Called also sweet spirit of niter. Spirit of salt (Chem.), hydrochloric acid; -- so called because obtained from salt and sulphuric acid. [Obs.] Spirit of sense, the utmost refinement of sensation. [Obs.] --Shak. Spirits, or Spirit, of turpentine (Chem.), rectified oil of turpentine, a transparent, colorless, volatile, and very inflammable liquid, distilled from the turpentine of the various species of pine; camphine. See Camphine. Spirit of vitriol (Chem.), sulphuric acid; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of green vitriol. [Obs.] Spirit of vitriolic ether (Chem.) ether; -- often but incorrectly called sulphuric ether. See Ether. [Obs.] Spirits, or Spirit, of wine (Chem.), alcohol; -- so called because formerly obtained by the distillation of wine. Spirit rapper, one who practices spirit rapping; a ``medium'' so called. Spirit rapping, an alleged form of communication with the spirits of the dead by raps. See Spiritualism, 3. Sweet spirit of niter. See Spirit of nitrous ether, above.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spirit Spir"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spirited; p. pr. & vb. n. Spiriting.] 1. To animate with vigor; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit; as, civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men; -- sometimes followed by up. Many officers and private men spirit up and assist those obstinate people to continue in their rebellion. --Swift. 2. To convey rapidly and secretly, or mysteriously, as if by the agency of a spirit; to kidnap; -- often with away, or off. The ministry had him spirited away, and carried abroad as a dangerous person. --Arbuthnot & Pope. I felt as if I had been spirited into some castle of antiquity. --Willis. Spiriting away (Law), causing to leave; the offense of inducing a witness to leave a jurisdiction so as to evade process requiring attendance at trial.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(spirits, spiriting, spirited) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. Your spirit is the part of you that is not physical and that consists of your character and feelings. The human spirit is virtually indestructible... N-SING see also kindred spirit 2. A person's spirit is the non-physical part of them that is believed to remain alive after their death. His spirit has left him and all that remains is the shell of his body. = soul N-COUNT: usu poss N 3. A spirit is a ghost or supernatural being. ...protection against evil spirits. N-COUNT see also Holy Spirit 4. Spirit is the courage and determination that helps people to survive in difficult times and to keep their way of life and their beliefs. She was a very brave girl and everyone who knew her admired her spirit. 5. Spirit is the liveliness and energy that someone shows in what they do. They played with spirit. N-UNCOUNT 6. The spirit in which you do something is the attitude you have when you are doing it. Their problem can only be solved in a spirit of compromise... N-SING 7. A particular kind of spirit is the feeling of loyalty to a group that is shared by the people who belong to the group. There is a great sense of team spirit among the British Olympic squad... N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp, oft n N 8. A particular kind of spirit is the set of ideas, beliefs, and aims that are held by a group of people. ...the real spirit of the Labour movement. N-SING 9. The spirit of something such as a law or an agreement is the way that it was intended to be interpreted or applied. The requirement for work permits violates the spirit of the 1950 treaty. N-SING: the N of n 10. You can refer to a person as a particular kind of spirit if they show a certain characteristic or if they show a lot of enthusiasm in what they are doing. I like to think of myself as a free spirit... N-COUNT: usu adj N 11. Your spirits are your feelings at a particular time, especially feelings of happiness or unhappiness. At supper, everyone was in high spirits... N-PLURAL 12. If someone or something is spirited away, or if they are spirited out of somewhere, they are taken from a place quickly and secretly without anyone noticing. (WRITTEN) He was spirited away and probably murdered... His parents had spirited him away to the country... It is possible that he has been spirited out of the country. VERB: be V-ed away, V n away, be V-ed prep/adv 13. Spirits are strong alcoholic drinks such as whisky and gin. N-PLURAL 14. Spirit or spirits is an alcoholic liquid that is used as a fuel, for cleaning things, or for other purposes. There are many kinds of spirit. see also methylated spirits, surgical spirit

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Heb. ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath. In 2 Thess. 2:8 it means "breath," and in Eccl. 8:8 the vital principle in man. It also denotes the rational, immortal soul by which man is distinguished (Acts 7:59; 1 Cor. 5:5; 6:20; 7:34), and the soul in its separate state (Heb. 12:23), and hence also an apparition (Job 4:15; Luke 24:37, 39), an angel (Heb. 1:14), and a demon (Luke 4:36; 10:20). This word is used also metaphorically as denoting a tendency (Zech. 12:10; Luke 13:11).

In Rom. 1:4, 1 Tim. 3:16, 2 Cor. 3:17, 1 Pet. 3:18, it designates the divine nature.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spir'-it (ruach; pneuma; Latin, spiritus):

1. Primary and Figurative Senses

(1) As Wind, Breath

(2) As Anger or Fury

(3) As Mental and Moral Qualities in Man

2. Shades of Meaning

(1) As Life-Principle

(2) As Surviving Death

(3) Spiritual Manifestations

3. Human and Divine Spirit

(1) The Human as Related with the Divine

(2) Operations of the Divine Spirit as Third Person of the Trinity

4. Old Testament Applications

5. Various Interpretations

1. Primary and Figurative Senses:

(1) As Wind, Breath:

Used primarily in the Old Testament and New Testament of the wind, as in Ge 8:1; Nu 11:31; Am 4:13 ("createth the wind"); Heb 1:7 (angels, "spirits" or "winds" in margin); often used of the breath, as in Job 12:10; 15:30, and in 2Th 2:8 (wicked consumed by "the breath of his mouth").

(2) As Anger or Fury:

In a figurative sense it was used as indicating anger or fury, and as such applied even to God, who destroys by the "breath of his nostrils" (Job 4:9; Ex 15:8; 2Sa 22:16; see 2Th 2:8).

(3) As Mental and Moral Qualities in Man:

Hence, applied to man--as being the seat of emotion in desire or trouble, and thus gradually of mental and moral qualities in general (Ex 28:3, "the spirit of wisdom"; Eze 11:19, "a new spirit" etc.). Where man is deeply stirred by the Divine Spirit, as among the prophets, we have a somewhat similar use of the word, in such expressions as: "The Spirit of the Lord came .... upon him" (1Sa 10:10).

2. Shades of Meaning:

(1) As Life-Principle:

The spirit as life-principle in man has various applications: sometimes to denote an apparition (Mt 14:26, the King James Version "saying, It is a spirit"; Lu 24:37, the King James Version "had seen a spirit"); sometimes to denote angels, both fallen and unfallen (Heb 1:14, "ministering spirits"; Mt 10:1, "unclean spirits"; compare also Mt 12:43; Mr 1:23,26,27; and in Re 1:4, "the seven Spirits .... before his throne").

(2) As Surviving Death:

The spirit is thus in man the principle of life--but of man as distinguished from the brute--so that in death this spirit is yielded to the Lord (Lu 23:46; Ac 7:59; 1Co 5:5, "that the spirit may be saved"). Hence, God is called the "Father of spirits" (Heb 12:9).

(3) Spiritual Manifestations:

Thus generally for all the manifestations of the spiritual part in man, as that which thinks, feels, wills; and also to denote certain qualities which characterize the man, e.g. "poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3); "spirit of gentleness" (Ga 6:1); "of bondage" (Ro 8:15); "of jealousy" (Nu 5:14); "of fear" (2Ti 1:7 the King James Version); "of slumber" (Ro 11:8 the King James Version). Hence, we are called upon to "rule over our own spirit" (Pr 16:32; 25:28), and are warned against being overmastered by a wrong spirit (Lu 9:55 the King James Version, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of"). So man may submit to the "spirit of error," and turn away from the "spirit of truth" (1 Joh 4:6). Thus we read of the "spirit of counsel" (Isa 11:2); "of wisdom" (Eph 1:17).

3. Human and Divine Spirit:

(1) The Human as Related with the Divine:

We go a step higher when we find the human spirit brought into relationship with the Divine Spirit. For man is but a creature to whom life has been imparted by God's spirit--life being but a resultant of God's breath. Thus life and death are realistically described as an imparting or a withdrawing of God's breath, as in Job 27:3; 33:4; 34:14, "spirit and breath" going together. The spirit may thus be "revived" (Ge 45:27), or "overwhelmed" (Ps 143:4), or "broken" (Pr 15:13). And where sin has been keenly felt, it is "a broken spirit" which is "a sacrifice to God" (Ps 51:17); and when man submits to the power of sin, a new direction is given to his mind: he comes under a "spirit of whoredom" (Ho 4:12); he becomes "proud in spirit" (Ec 7:8), instead of being "patient in spirit"; he is a fool because he is "hasty in spirit" and gives way to "anger" (Ec 7:9). The "faithful in spirit" are the men who resist talebearing and backbiting in the world (Pr 11:13). In such instances as these the difference between "soul" and "spirit" appears.

See SOUL; PSYCHOLOGY.

(2) Operations of the Divine Spirit as Third Person of the Trinity:

On this higher plane, too, we find the Divine Spirit at work. The terminology is very varied here: In the New Testament we read of the "Holy Spirit" (1Co 6:19; Mt 1:18,20; 1Th 1:5,6); the "Spirit of God" (1Co 2:10 ff; 3:16; Ro 8:9,11; Eph 3:16, etc.); the "Spirit of Christ" (Ro 8:9; 1Co 3:17; Ga 4:6); or simply of "Spirit," with distinct reference to God (1Co 2:10; Ro 8:16,23, etc.). God Himself is Spirit (Joh 4:24). Hence, God's power is manifested in human life and character (Lu 4:14; Ro 1:1; 1Co 2:4; especially Lu 24:49). The Book of Ac may be termed the Book of the Holy Spirit, working with power in man. This Spirit is placed on a level with Father and Son in the Apostolic Benediction (2Co 13:14) and in the parting message of the Saviour to His disciples (Mt 28:19). As the agent in redemption and sanctification His work is glorified by lives "renewed" in the very "spirit of the mind"--a collocation of terms which has puzzled many interpreters (Eph 4:23,24), where pneuma and nous appear together, to indicate a renewal which is all-embracing, `renewed in the spirit of your mind, so that the new man is put on, created in righteousness and true holiness' (see also Joh 14:17,26; 15:26; 16:13; 1Co 12:11, etc.).

4. Old Testament Applications:

In the Old Testament this spirit of God appears in varied functions, as brooding over chaos (Ge 1:2; Job 26:13); as descending upon men, on heroes like Othniel, Gideon, etc. (Jud 3:10; 6:34), on prophets (Eze 37:1), on "cunning workmen," like Bezalel and Aholiab (Ex 31:2,3,4, "filled with the Spirit of God"), and specially in such passages as Ps 51:11, where the very presence of God is indicated by an abiding influence of the Holy Spirit: "The Spirit of Yahweh is Yahweh himself."

5. Various Interpretations:

May we not reach a still higher stage? Wendt in his interesting monograph (Die Begriffe Fleisch und Geist), of which extracts are given in Dickson's Paul's Use of the Terms Flesh and Spirit, draws attention to the transcendental influence of the Divine ruach in the Old Testament as expressed in such phrases as `to put on' (Jud 6:34), `to fall upon' (14:6,19), `to settle' (Nu 11:25 f). May we not then rightly assume that more is meant than a mere influence emanating from a personal God? Are we not right in maintaining with Davidson that "there are indeed a considerable number of passages in the Old Testament which might very well express the idea that the Spirit is a distinct hypostasis or person."? (see SUBSTANCE). Rejecting the well-known passage in Genesis: "Let us make man after our own image," which some have interpreted in a trinitarian sense, we may point to such texts as Zec 4:6, "by my Spirit"; Isa 63:10,11, "They rebelled, and grieved his holy Spirit"; "Where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?" This is borne out by the New Testament, with its warnings against "grieving the Holy Spirit," "lying against the Holy Spirit," and kindred expressions (Eph 4:30; Ac 5:3). It is this Spirit which "beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God" (Ro 8:16)--the spirit which, as Auberlen has put it (PRE1, article "Geist des Menschen"), "appears in a double relationship to us, as the principle of natural life, which is ours by birth, and that of spiritual life, which we receive through the new birth (Wiedergeburt)." Hence, Paul speaks of God whom he serves "with his spirit" (Ro 1:9); and in 2Ti 1:3 he speaks of serving God "in a pure conscience."

See CONSCIENCE; FLESH; HOLY SPIRIT; PSYCHOLOGY; SOUL.

J. I. Marais

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Air, breath. 2. Life. 3. Vital essence (apart from matter), immaterial substance. 4. Soul, pure intelligence, inner man. 5. Soul, disembodied soul. 6. Apparition, ghost, spectre, shade, phantom. 7. Demon, genius, sprite, fairy, elf, angel. 8. Disposition, temper, humor, mood, spirits, frame of mind, turn of mind. 9. Courage, ardor, fire, energy, force, vivacity, cheerfulness, enterprise, vigor, mettle, earnestness, enthusiasm, zeal, resolution, elevation of soul. 10. Liveliness, animation, piquancy, warmth, glow, vivacity, cheerfulness, enterprise. 11. Person (as distinguished by peculiar qualities), individual. 12. Meaning, significance, purport, intent, drift, gist, tenor, sense. 13. Nature, character, complexion, characteristic quality, essential part, essence, quintessence. 14. Alcohol, distilled liquor. 15. Liquor, intoxicating liquor. 16. [With The prefixed.] Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Paraclete, Comforter, the Spirit of God. II. v. a. 1. Excite, encourage, animate, inspirit. 2. Kidnap, carry off (secretly).

Moby Thesaurus

Geist, Masan, Muse, abandon, abduce, abduct, activity, adventuresomeness, adventurousness, affective meaning, afflatus, aggression, aggressiveness, aim, air, airy nothing, alacrity, alcohol, ambitiousness, anima, anima humana, animal spirits, animate, animating force, animation, animus, anxiety, anxiousness, apparition, appearance, appetite, aqua vitae, ardency, ardor, astral, astral body, astral spirit, atman, atmosphere, attitude, atua, aura, avidity, avidness, axiom, ba, backbone, banshee, baring, bathmism, beating heart, being, bent, biological clock, biorhythm, blood, body-build, bones, booze, bosom, bottom, brand, bravery, breast, breath, breath of life, breathless impatience, breeziness, brio, briskness, bubble, bubbliness, buddhi, capersomeness, carry away, carry off, cast, center, center of life, character, characteristic, characteristics, cheer, cheerful readiness, chutzpah, climate, coloring, coltishness, commitment, committedness, complexion, composition, concentrate, concentration, connotation, consciousness, consequence, constituents, constitution, control, core, courage, crasis, creative thought, creativity, crimp, cue, daemon, daimonion, daring, dash, dauntlessness, decoction, dedication, demon, denotation, departed spirit, desire, devotedness, devotion, devoutness, dharma, diathesis, disembodied spirit, disposition, distillate, distillation, divine afflatus, divine breath, divine spark, drift, drink, drive, duppy, dybbuk, dynamism, eagerness, earnestness, ebullience, ecstasy, effect, effervescence, ego, eidolon, elan, elan vital, elixir, embue, energy, enliven, enterprise, enterprisingness, enthusiasm, esoteric reality, esprit, esprit de corps, essence, essence of life, essential, ether, ethos, evil spirits, excitement, exhilarate, extension, extract, extraction, exuberance, fabric, faith, faithfulness, feel, feeling, feelings, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fiber, fidelity, fire, fire of genius, firewater, flower, focus, force, force of life, forcefulness, form, forwardness, frame, frame of mind, friskiness, frolicsomeness, fundamental, furor, fury, gaiety, gameness, gamesomeness, gayness, genius, get-up-and-get, get-up-and-go, getup, ghost, gimp, ginger, gist, glow, go, go-ahead, go-getting, go-to-itiveness, grain, grammatical meaning, grateful dead, gravamen, grit, grog, gross body, growth force, guide, gumption, gust, gusto, guts, gutsiness, guttiness, habit, hant, haunt, heart, heart of hearts, heart of oak, heartbeat, heartblood, heartiness, heartstrings, heat, heatedness, hold for ransom, hooch, hue, humor, humors, hustle, hypostasis, idea, idolum, ilk, illusion, imbue, immateriality, impact, impassionedness, impatience, impetuosity, impetus, implication, import, impress, impulse, impulse of life, inclination, incorporeal, incorporeal being, incorporeity, infect, inform, infuse, infusion, initiative, inject, inmost heart, inmost soul, inner essence, inner man, inner nature, innermost being, inoculate, inside, inspiration, inspire, inspirit, inspiriting force, intelligence, intension, intensity, intent, intention, intentness, intestinal fortitude, jiva, jivatma, joie de vivre, juice, kama, keen desire, keenness, kernel, khu, kidnap, kind, larva, lemures, lexical meaning, life, life breath, life cycle, life essence, life force, life principle, life process, lifeblood, linga sharira, liquor, literal meaning, liveliness, living force, loyalty, lustiness, makeup, manas, manes, manfulness, manliness, marrow, material, materialization, matter, meaning, meat, medium, mediumism, message, mettle, mettlesomeness, might, milieu, mind, mist, mold, mood, morale, motivation, moxie, nature, necromancy, nephesh, nerve, nerve center, note, notion, nub, nucleus, nuts and bolts, oni, oomph, overtone, panache, passion, passionateness, passions, pep, pepper, peppiness, perkiness, persona, pertinence, pertness, phantasm, phantasma, phantom, physical body, physique, piquancy, piss and vinegar, pith, pizzazz, playfulness, pluck, pluckiness, pneuma, poignancy, point, poltergeist, postulate, power, practical consequence, prana, presence, principle, principle of desire, promptness, property, psyche, pungency, purification, purport, purpose, purusha, push, pushfulness, pushiness, pushingness, quality, quick, quickness, quid, quiddity, quintessence, raciness, range of meaning, readiness, real meaning, reference, referent, refinement, relation, relevance, relish, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, revenant, robustness, rollicksomeness, rompishness, ruach, run away with, sand, sap, sauce, savor, scope, seance, seat of life, secret heart, secret places, self, semantic cluster, semantic field, sense, sentiments, seriousness, shade, shadow, shanghai, shape, shrouded spirit, significance, signification, significatum, signifie, sincerity, sitting, skittishness, skyjack, smoke, snap, snatch, somatotype, sort, soul, span of meaning, spark of life, sparkle, specter, spectral ghost, spice, spirit away, spirit up, spiritedness, spiritism, spirits, spiritual being, spiritualism, spiritus, spook, sportiveness, sprightliness, sprite, spunk, spunkiness, stamina, stamp, starch, state of mind, sthula sharira, stout heart, streak, strength, stripe, strong drink, structural meaning, stuff, substance, suchness, sum, sum and substance, supernatural being, symbolic meaning, system, take away, talent, team spirit, temper, temperament, tendency, tenor, the nitty-gritty, the self, theophany, thin air, thought, timbre, tipple, tone, totality of associations, toughness, transferred meaning, transport, true being, true grit, true inwardness, type, umbra, unadorned meaning, undertone, unsubstantiality, up-and-comingness, urge, valor, value, vapor, vehemence, vein, venturesomeness, venturousness, verve, vigor, vim, vis vitae, vis vitalis, viscera, vision, vital energy, vital flame, vital fluid, vital force, vital principle, vital spark, vital spirit, vitality, vitals, vivaciousness, vivacity, vividness, walking dead man, wandering soul, warmth, warmth of feeling, way, will, wraith, zeal, zealousness, zest, zestfulness, zing, zip, zombie