- spirit
- spir|it1 W2S3 [ˈspırıt] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(character)¦2¦(happy/sad)¦3¦(soul)¦4¦(no body)¦5¦(determination)¦6¦(attitude)¦7 team/community/public etc spirit8¦(typical qualities)¦9 in spirit10 get/enter into the spirit (of something)11¦(intention)¦12 the Spirit13¦(drink)¦14 that's the spirit15 when/as the spirit moves you16 the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak)▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1200-1300; : Anglo-French; Origin: Latin spiritus 'breath, spirit']1.) ¦(CHARACTER)¦ [singular, U]the qualities that make someone live the way they do, and make them different from other peoplein spirit▪ I'm 85, but I still feel young in spirit.independent/proud/free etc spirit(=a person with a particular type of character)▪ She is a strong and independent spirit.2.) ¦(HAPPY/SAD)¦spirits [plural]the way someone feels at a particular time, for example if they are happy or sad→↑moodbe in good/high spirits(=be excited and happy)▪ Seb was still in high spirits after winning the race.▪ His spirits were so low (=he was so sad) that he refused to answer his phone.raise/lift sb's spirits(=make someone happier)▪ The warm morning sun lifted our spirits.▪ She wrote poetry while she was in the hospital to keep her spirits up (=keep happy) .sb's spirits rise/lift/sink(=they become more or less happy)▪ My spirits sank when I saw the mess they'd left.3.) ¦(SOUL)¦the part of someone that you cannot see, that consists of the qualities that make up their character, which many people believe continues to live after the person has died→↑soul▪ Although Laurie is dead, I can feel his spirit with me.4.) ¦(NO BODY)¦a creature without a physical body that some people believe exists, such as an ↑angel or a dead person, who has returned to this world and has strange or magical powers→↑ghost▪ an evil spirit5.) ¦(DETERMINATION)¦[U]courage, energy, and determination - use this to show approval▪ Sandra is small, but she makes up for it with great spirit.▪ a young team with strong fighting spirit▪ When they took away his freedom, they broke his spirit (=made him lose his courage) .6.) ¦(ATTITUDE)¦ [singular, U]the attitude that you have towards something or while you are doing something▪ You've got to approach this meeting in the right spirit.spirit of▪ the spirit of cooperation between the two sides7.) team/community/public etc spirita strong feeling of belonging to a particular group and wanting to help them8.) ¦(TYPICAL QUALITIES)¦ [C usually singular]the set of ideas, beliefs, feelings etc that are typical of a particular period in history, a place, or a group of peoplespirit of▪ Tourism has not destroyed the spirit of Bali.the spirit of the age/times▪ His beliefs conflicted with the spirit of the age.9.) in spiritif you say you will be somewhere in spirit or with someone in spirit, you will not be with them but will be thinking about them▪ I can't come to your wedding, but I'll be there in spirit.10.) get/enter into the spirit (of sth)to start to feel as happy, excited etc as the people around you▪ Judith couldn't really enter into the spirit of the occasion.11.) ¦(INTENTION)¦[U]the meaning or qualities that someone intended something to have, especially the meaning that a law or rule was intended to have▪ Thoreau believed that his actions were in the spirit of American institutions.▪ Miller's actions may not be actually illegal, but they have violated the spirit of the law .12.) the Spiritthe ↑Holy Spirit13.) ¦(DRINK)¦ [C usually plural]b) BrE liquid such as alcohol, used for cleaning14.) that's the spiritspoken used to express approval of someone's behaviour or attitude15.) when/as the spirit moves youwhen you feel that you want to do something16.) the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak)used when saying that you want to do something, but you are too tired or do not feel strong enough - often used humorouslyspirit 2spirit2 v writtenspirit away/off [spirit sb/sth away/off] phr vto take someone or something away quickly and secretly▪ After his speech, Jackson was spirited away through a back door.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
