spirit means the soul of a person or other creature. It carries an Arena rating of 1649, earned across 11 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, spirit ranks #4 of 17,123 for Most Malleable Words, #2,330 of 17,113 for Most Elegant Words, #3,168 of 17,111 for Most Sublime Words, #5,881 of 17,130 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
spirit is pronounced /ˈspɪɹɪt/.
Why “spirit” is a great word
The animating principle of a living being, or a supernatural entity such as a ghost or angel. From Anglo-French *spirit*, Old French *espirit* (“spirit, soul”), from Latin *spiritus* (“breath, spirit”), from *spirare* (“to breathe”). Unlike “apparition,” which is a sudden, spectral sight, or “liqueur,” a specific sweetened cordial, *spirit* is the essential, unbodied thing itself. It is the vapor rising from a just-struck match, the empty chair that holds its shape after someone has left, and the inexplicable lift that carries a weary glance from the mud to the stars—the breath that suggests something breathes behind the mere machinery of flesh and stone.
noun
- The soul of a person or other creature.
- A supernatural being, often but not exclusively without physical form; ghost, fairy, angel.e.g.“A wandering spirit haunts the island.”
- A feeling of passion.; Enthusiasm.e.g.“School spirit is at an all-time high.”
- A feeling of passion.; Energy; ardour.e.g.“"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.”
- The manner or style of something.e.g.“In the spirit of forgiveness, we didn't press charges.”
- Intent; real meaning; opposed to the letter, or formal statement.e.g.“the spirit of an enterprise, or of a document”
- A volatile liquid, such as alcohol. The plural form spirits is a generic term for distilled alcoholic beverages.
- One who is vivacious or lively; one who evinces great activity or peculiar characteristics of mind or temper.e.g.“a ruling spirit; a schismatic spirit”
- Temper or disposition of mind; mental condition or disposition; intellectual or moral state.e.g.“to be cheerful, or in good spirits; to be down-hearted, or in bad spirits”
- Air set in motion by breathing; breath; hence, sometimes, life itself.e.g.“For else he sure had left not one aliue,>br>But all in his reuenge of spirite would depriue.”
- A rough breathing; an aspirate, such as the letter h; also, a mark denoting aspiration.e.g.“Be it a letter or spirit, we have great use of it.”
- Any of the four substances: sulphur, sal ammoniac, quicksilver, and arsenic (or, according to some, orpiment).
- Stannic chloride.
- The essence behind historical development of both individual and society evolving towards the Absolute.
verb
- To carry off, especially in haste, secrecy, or mystery.e.g.“I felt as if I had been spirited into some castle of felicity.”
- Sometimes followed by up: to animate with vigour; to excite; to encourage; to inspirit.e.g.“Civil dissensions often spirit the ambition of private men.”